The Best Offer Page #2

pre-17th century.

- Even older.

- Then it must be worth something.

It is a work by Valiante, the

female forger of the 16th century.

She copied masterpieces,

but couldn't sign them

as she was a woman,

so she marked them

with a personal code

hidden in the folds

of the drapery

or in this case, in the

gaze of the subject.

The beam of light on the

Iris is nothing if not a V.

That is Valiante.

It is worth something, but nothing

compared to the original.

- Are you Mr. Oldman's assistant?

- Yes.

I'm Fred, the caretaker.

Pleased to meet you.

- Please, come in.

- Thank you.

And Miss lbbetson?

She sends her apologies,

but overnight, she was

running a temperature.

She should have called me.

Spared myself a wasted trip.

Well, give her my best wishes.

She asked if you would

go ahead with valuation.

She's instructed me

to show you around.

Everything's at your disposal.

Come with me.

Miss lbbetson was hoping

to meet your boss.

It doesn't matter. Your

mistress didn't show up either.

Fair enough.

I suppose it'll get

the job done quicker.

Forgive the mess.

It's gone to wrack and ruin ever

since Miss lbbetson's parents died.

Let's go up.

How long since the owners died?

By the look of it, you'd

think it was centuries ago,

but it's only been one year.

First Mrs. Ibbetson and then,

scarcely 45 days later,

poor Mr. Ibbetson.

You have a good look.

Take your time.

Just getting these

curtains open.

Too many windows in this room.

Okay.

How many brothers and sisters

does Miss lbbetson have?

None. She is an only child.

- Is she married?

- No.

- Has she ever been?

- No, no.

I don't think she

even has a boyfriend.

- Grandparents, aunts, uncles?

- No, none at all.

As far as I know, Miss

lbbetson is on her own.

So many rooms.

You know, I've never

managed to count them all.

Have there been other

valuations before me?

Absolutely none.

Yours is the first.

Miss lbbetson is extremely

fond of this house.

Maybe too fond.

She'd prefer to keep everything,

but what can you do?

The empire crumbles. A woman

on her own can't cope.

Is she thinking of putting the

house up for sale as well?

That, I don't know.

Maybe a part of it.

She won't get rid

of the whole place.

What kind of work does she do?

I couldn't say. I only

dealt with her parents.

- May I see the cellars?

- It's this way.

It's a long way down.

Go ahead.

I honestly don't get it.

In the time I've known you,

I've never seen you beaten.

I've watched you produce

all manner of gadgets

from most unremarkable ironwork.

Optical, arithmetical

devices, water clocks...

Even that hairdryer that probably dried

the locks of Jules Verne's wife.

But you've nothing to say about

this curious contraption?

I'm surprised that an art

connoisseur like yourself

can get so carried away by

a banal piece of ironwork.

It's not the object that

arouses my curiosity,

but it's contradiction.

- Contradiction?

- Look.

I found it in this position in

contact with damp flooring,

but the rust is all along the top

of the cogs, nowhere near the damp.

What does this mean?

The object hadn't been

there for very long.

It got rusted in some other place.

Or someone turned it upside down.

That's all, nothing more than a

useless exercise in deduction.

Hi. Did you manage it?

Did you ever doubt me?

This works perfectly now.

And I transcribed the

recording from the tape.

You're a genius. How

much do I owe you?

Oh, nothing.

Maybe you'll invite me out.

Count on it.

- Can I give you a kiss?

- Yes, you can!

That I am good at.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

The Birth Of Venus.

Authentic.

Umberto Veruda,

The Honest, 1890.

You've been the talk

of the town lately.

I hoped to see you on TV.

I don't like to appear. I

prefer to remain in shadow.

We're much the same that way.

That doesn't mean we'll agree.

My secretary's been

looking for you.

How do you know that a painter

will become collectable?

Intuition, which also makes

me doubt your intentions.

Sorry for that impression but I've

entrusted you with my belongings.

That's not how it works.

There must be a signed

contract before the inventory.

It takes time, and unless

you stop fooling around

and decide to come out it

will never get started.

Go ahead with the inventory.

I'll meet you at the villa.

We'll reach an agreement.

You have my word.

- Take these.

- Yes.

Be careful!

I'm not sure but it

looks German to me.

Austrian. Careful with that.

It's 11:
00 The

appointment was 8:30.

She's not answering. She said

she'll come. She'll be here.

The piano doesn't

need restoration.

Quite so.

We have to check it

but there's no key.

But here it is.

Last time there was no key.

Looks good.

Mr. Oldman!

Would you help me

with the bookcase?

Italian bookcase, wood.

First half of...

Who smashed this?

Nobody, Mr. Oldman, it

was already broken.

Is this part of the

house inhabited?

Why?

There have been some changes.

No, no, Mr...

I'm sorry, I'm not

sure of your name.

I thought you were...

It doesn't matter who I am.

Nobody lives here.

Be that as it may, if your

mistress is not here by midday

I will have no option but

to suspend operations.

Mr. Oldman!

Miss lbbetson.

Hello, Mr. Oldman?

Mr. Oldman, can you hear me?

Mr. Oldman, I apologise.

What must you think of me?

Spare me the self-serving

justifications.

Let me speak.

I cannot touch your things without

a contract. Is that clear?

Would you leave it on the

table in the hallway?

I'll sign it. I accept

all your conditions.

Yes, but I do not accept yours.

I will not do business with a

silly, superficial phantom.

Be careful!

I understand your exasperation.

But please believe me I

didn't mean anything by it.

It's been a series of unfortunate,

unintentional mishaps.

So what exactly happened today?

My car was stolen and I had to

go to the police to report it.

Which police station

did you go to?

- The one in the city.

- Whereabouts?

- On the main square.

- Which square?

No more interrogation!

No more! Who do you

think you are?

Are you here, Miss lbbetson?

What kind of question is that?

Are you here?

I don't understand.

I don't understand.

- If you're here, come out now.

- Stop it!

Explain the meaning of this game

which I do not find amusing.

Call me tonight. I'll explain.

It's the same material

and the same workmanship too.

These belong to the same system.

There's no signature,

no inscription?

I mean when I've got the rust and the

oxidisation off the other piece.

There's nothing.

I can do the same with these but, I

mean, right now I can't see anything.

What have you found?

The technique, how the cog has

been attached to it's axis.

It's really old. I've

never seen it before.

Here, look. Have a look.

It's 18th century.

We could be onto

something big here.

Could you guess what it is?

Three pieces of the mosaic

is not enough, Mr. Oldman.

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