The Case of the Three-Ring Puzzle by Christopher Bush

Author:Christopher Bush
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2022-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

I briefed French and Drew. They’d be working in shifts, with Drew taking the first. If Jedmont came out of Wingram House with a friend, the friend was to be followed when the two parted. Just before five o’clock both operatives would be on duty. If Gay Lavalle and Jedmont left separately, each was to be followed till their addresses were known.

I had my usual cup of coffee and set about putting into operation something of my own. Among the things I’ve picked up in the course of my life is an early eighteenth-century miniature of a man. I’d had an expert opinion on it. The artist couldn’t be definitely named but I was advised to insure it for a minimum of fifty pounds. It was in the original frame and had all the things one looks for: brilliancy, grace of line, deft touch and fine, transparent colour. At the sales I’ve seen inferior miniatures make much more.

I rang Jedmont. I mentioned the miniature and asked if it’d be beneath his dignity to make me a colour reproduction.

“Sounds interesting,” he said. “Why not let me see it?”

“When?”

“Well, why not now? I don’t say I’ll do the job now but I’d like to look at it.”

Twenty minutes later I was pushing the bell at the side of the Jedmont door. It was Gay who let me in.

“You’re looking very pleased with yourself?” I told her. “Someone left you a legacy?”

She laughed. “No such luck. But why shouldn’t I be pleased?”

I gave what I hoped was a humorous grimace and a shrug of the shoulders. I was beginning to like her. Cheerfulness is rarely a jar. I’d seen her previously for only a minute or two but now I was having a kind of personal look at her, and I was thinking she was far too good for Jedmont.

“Monty’s expecting you,” she said. “I’ll tell him you’re here. About a miniature, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’d like you to see it too. I think it’s pretty good.”

She went through the far door. A couple of minutes and Jedmont came in, Gay with him. He was in what I’d call studio clothes and was wiping his hands on a small towel.

“Ah, Mr. Travers. You’ve brought the miniature?”

I took it out of my overcoat breast pocket, unwrapped it carefully and handed it to him. Gay was peering over his shoulder.

“Nice,” he said, and gave her a look. The look stayed for a moment and became a smile.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked me.

“What I said. Make me a couple of exact copies. Any idea of what it’ll cost?”

He pursed his lips. “Tricky work. It’ll cost you ten pounds.”

“More than I’d hoped,” I said, “but it’s a bargain.”

He smiled.

“Wait a minute. It needn’t cost you a cent. I could use something like this. Give me permission and you can have your two copies for free.”

I thought it over. It wouldn’t do me any harm if that miniature had a certain amount of publicity.

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