Stealing Mona Lisa by Carson Morton

Author:Carson Morton [Morton, Carson]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Madame Charneau had barely opened the door to her house in the cour de Rohan when Peruggia pushed past her into the foyer. He removed the panel from beneath his blouse and bounded up the stairs, hugging it tightly to his chest. The others entered the house in time to hear the door to his room close behind him.

“What’s gotten into him?” Émile said quietly. “He hasn’t said a word since we left the museum.”

“I thought we’d have more time to make the switch,” said Madame Charneau.

“Where did you put the copy?” Émile asked Julia.

“In the attic,” she replied. “We’re going to have to work fast.”

Julia led Émile up the stairs. On the first floor, they stopped at Peruggia’s room. Émile nodded to Julia, who knocked on the door. After a moment, the door swung open a few inches and Peruggia peered out.

“Yes? What do you want?”

Julia thought she detected an element of suspicion in his tone.

“To come in,” Émile said as cheerfully as he could.

“Why?”

“To celebrate, of course,” Julia chimed in.

Peruggia hesitated for a moment before pulling the door open to let them in. He immediately went to an open trunk that had been pulled out from beneath his bed. The painting lay on the mattress faceup. Peruggia knelt down, lifted the panel, and placed it into the trunk.

“We should think of a safe place to hide it,” Julia suggested.

“Perhaps we should store it in the attic,” said Émile, as if the idea had just occurred to him.

Peruggia said nothing. He covered the panel with some folded shirts, closed the lid, and locked it with a key.

“It will be safe here,” he said, sliding the trunk back under the bed. He rose and slipped the key into his jacket pocket. “I’m not going to leave this room. I’ll take my meals in here.”

“That’s hardly necessary,” said Émile. “I really think the attic—”

But Peruggia stopped him with a stony look. “I told the marquis I would wait, and I will. But not forever. The next time I leave this room, it will be to return La Gioconda to its rightful home.”

“Of course, but…” Émile began before Julia cut him off.

“I’m sure with Signore Peruggia watching over it, it will be perfectly safe,” she said with a pointed look to Émile. “After all, without him, it would still be hanging in the museum. We are all grateful indeed.” And then, without warning, she turned and threw her arms around Peruggia, catching him by surprise with a tight hug.

“Well, I think we all must be tired,” she said, drawing back, collecting Émile, and retreating to the door. “Perhaps we should postpone our celebration for another time. Thank you for all you’ve done, signore.”

As soon as the door closed behind them, Peruggia sat down on the bed. Still wearing his shoes, he swung his legs up and lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling.

* * *

Émile pulled Julia away from the door and whispered frantically, “Now what?”

Julia opened the palm of her hand, revealing Peruggia’s trunk key.

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