Gollantz: London, Paris, Milan (The Gollantz Family Saga Book 6) by Naomi Jacob

Author:Naomi Jacob [Jacob, Naomi]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Jewish history, Jewish families, antique business, secrets and lies, marriage and family, politics, historical family saga
Publisher: Wyndham Books (Family Saga)
Published: 2016-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Emmanuel had been in Milano for five days ‒ days filled with hard work, with making plans, with long conferences with Guido. Scarcely a moment had been left for rest much less recreation. Louis and his wife had gone, returning to Paris; and with Louis, too, Emmanuel had held long discussions. Their two firms had always, before the war, worked together; if a good picture did not sell in Milano it was sent to Paris and one from Louis’s collection was sent back in exchange. The system had worked very well, both men liked and trusted each other, both had ideals regarding their business, and both were specialists in their own profession.

The morning he was leaving, Louis sat in Emmanuel’s office for a last discussion. Guido came in and out with his hands full of papers and documents, prices and changed conditions were argued out and arranged.

Finally Louis pushed the last document away from him and sighed. ‘I am tired,’ he announced; ‘in the days when the world was still civilized, at this hour men ‒ who were also gentlemen ‒ used to say to me, “Louis, mon brave, this is the hour for a drink!” My reply was always the same. “Not half!” Like Guido, I admire these English expressions.’

Emmanuel’s eyes twinkled, ‘Did anyone ever give you ‒ half?’

Louis shook his head. ‘Not often; when that did happen I would say, “Tell me, am I dressed in yellow? No? Then please observe that I am not a canary bird!” It used to cause a great deal of laughter.’

‘I’m certain of it. Well, as this is an occasion, although I don’t usually drink in the office ‒ don’t grin in that fashion, Guido! ‒ I shall break my rule.’

Guido said, ‘The expression is ‒ we will elongate the pointer!’

‘I generally use the less elaborate form,’ Emmanuel said. ‘ “Stretch a point” is good enough for me. Right, Guido … cognac, seltz, glasses, and we’ll drink to our combined success.’ He felt young, happy and confident. Things were going well, they would continue to go well. He had Moroni, with his complete devotion and his considerable acumen and astuteness, he had the co-operation of Louis Lara working hand in hand with him.

There might be difficult times ahead ‒ thin times, but if what he could judge of the present price of newly made and inferior furniture, there must inevitably still be people with judgement who realized that to buy good things ‒ which were old ‒ was a more profitable investment than to buy new goods which were bound to deteriorate rapidly. The complete luxury things might hang fire, but he had noted the prices of modern imitation jewellery, and decided that they were as high as many of the beautiful old trinkets which he offered for sale.

They could face a few lean years ‒ if indeed there were any real likelihood of them being lean, which Emmanuel doubted.

Louis, sipping his drink, twisting the glass so that the ice tinkled musically, watched Emmanuel intently.

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