The Best Offer Page #3

In the last few years the

old couple were unwell.

The house was in a

terrible state then.

Mr. lbbetson always said that

they'd have to sell something.

And Miss Claire. How old is she?

About 27.

What else can you

tell me about her?

Nothing really.

I've never had much to do with

her. I don't really know her.

And yet you've been in the service

of the lbbetsons for about 10 years.

Well, 11 years to be exact.

I don't have much

to do with her.

I talk to her often

at all hours but...

But?

I've never seen her.

- How could that be?

- It's the truth. Not once.

Why?

Because Miss Claire suffers

from a very strange illness.

- Hello.

- Good evening. It's Oldman.

I was expecting your call.

I have no wish to quarrel and

I'm sorry if I was rude today.

It doesn't matter.

But if I confirm I am

available, at the same time

I cannot permit this joke in poor

taste to continue any longer.

I wish you to stop all

involvement in my affairs.

I apologize for the trouble.

Send me your bill. Good night.

Lot 93. Valiante.

Portrait of a Lady.

16th century,

inspired by the Portrait of a

Young Girl by Petrus Christus.

Oil on wood. 30 x 40.

I have here an opening

bid of 20,000.

- 22,000.

- 22,000.

24,000. 26,000

on the telephone.

28,000 in the room. 30,000.

35,000. Thank you, Sir.

40,000 on the telephone.

45,000 in the room.

50,000.

55,000. 60,000. 65,000

on the telephone.

70,000. At 70,000.

Any advance on 70,000? 75,000.

80,000 on the telephone.

Any more?

All done at 80,000.

All done at 80,000.

90,000. Any more?

Sold.

- Thank you, Sir.

- I bid 90,000 too.

Mr. Oldman should have

been aware of that.

I don't believe so, Mrs Derain.

Mr Whistler bid 90,000.

- He was the only one.

- They bid simultaneously.

She got her bid in first.

I saw it.

What should we do?

I'm the biggest collector of

Valiante forgeries and I'll Sue you!

You were too slow, Billy! You didn't

get in with your bid in time.

And you were too late. Too late.

You didn't keep up with

me for God's sake!

She was behind me. If I'd

seen I'd have bid again.

You're losing it!

Maybe you're right

but it's not the first

time we've messed up.

It's the way things go. Never went

into a rage like this before.

That wasn't a Valiante forgery.

It was the genuine one

by Petrus Christus.

It'll be worth 8 million.

Woe be me.

I'm sorry. Honestly.

But even when we lost Van

Gogh's Lady With The Fan

you didn't take it this hard.

What's going on, Virgil?

1,011.

1,119.

1,320.

1,404.

- What will you have?

- 1,581.

Tea, thank you.

8,109.

8,725.

Sorry, darling, 8,625.

8,725!

8,725.

Take a closer look, you moron.

Sh*t! You're right, 8,725.

Well done, girl!

That's it?

- Bye!

- Bye!

I gave them a clean with

this special fluid.

And I have studied

them by the millimeter

and look what's come up.

Vaucanson.

I can't believe it!

Jacques Vaucanson.

18th century constructor

of automata.

When I was a student I

did my thesis on him.

That's incredible!

One of his most famous

androids even managed to talk.

Exactly. People would pay

to ask it questions.

The android would move it's

head, bow, and give it's reply.

I bet there was someone inside.

You know, a dwarf maybe.

Just like Edgar Allan Poe suspected

with Maelzel's Chess Player.

More than likely.

But the mystery that

nobody could explain

was how Vaucanson's automaton

always got it right.

Of course there was trickery

in making the automaton talk.

Everything it said was true.

You bring me all the pieces.

I promise to put them back together

exactly how Vaucanson had them.

I don't doubt it

but I fear I've lost my chance

to get the missing pieces.

They must be in the same

place you found these.

And all I need is 80%

of the elements,

and I can work out the rest

and rebuild it myself.

It's not that easy.

I'm sorry. That's my girlfriend.

Hey, Sarah, this is

Mr. Virgil Oldman.

Pleased to meet you, Sarah.

It's a pleasure. Robert has

told me so much about you.

Don't young people talk

about more exciting things?

Why don't you eat with us?

That's very kind. Another

time, thank you.

Alright, we won't insist.

We'll promise.

- Bye.

- Goodbye.

Cancel New York and tell the

Alphasons to meet us here.

We called the meeting.

So we've changed our minds.

Is that a problem?

Alright, Mr. Oldman.

Claire lbbetson phoned.

What does she want now?

She asked you to

meet her at 2:
30.

Meet her where?

At the lbbetson villa.

Where else?

I'm extremely grateful to

you for coming, Mr. Oldman.

How did you know it was me?

Fred has a limp. You don't.

Ah.

To be honest I didn't expect

you'd want to speak to me.

I know you can't stand my excuses.

If I were you, I wouldn't either.

In fact, your beh...

How should I put it?

Speak frankly. Don't worry.

I won't deny that your

whimsical little ways

are getting a bit tiresome.

I hope not too tiresome.

But I wanted to say sorry for...

well, my behavior.

Typical of a "silly, superficial

woman", as you put it.

Why do you systematically

avoid meeting me?

Nothing personal, believe me.

Why would you want to do

business with a person

who arouses such aversion in you

that you can't even

look him in the face?

It's hard to explain. You

won't believe me anyway.

If I didn't believe you, I wouldn't

be here playing hide and seek.

I don't meet many people.

It's been a long time now.

I see nothing serious in that.

Everyone has moments

when they prefer solitude

to the multitudes.

I haven't left this

house since I was 15.

- I don't think I understand.

- You understand perfectly.

This is my room.

If there's somebody in the

house or in the villa,

I lock myself up in here.

I've always done that, even

when my parents were here.

I hardly ever saw them.

I don't see anybody.

But why?

Why do you go around with

your hands covered by gloves?

It's a question of hygiene.

I don't see the connection.

You're afraid to touch others.

To touch their possessions

disgusts you.

I'm afraid of going to

places where others live.

These seem to me very

similar personal choices.

You'd like me to believe you haven't

walked a street in 12 years?

I see you know my age.

Being a hermit and employing

a caretaker doesn't add up.

I walk about quite a bit, if

that's what you want to know,

inside the villa when

there's nobody here,

which is often now,

but I never go out.

The very idea paralyses me.

I hope you understand me now.

I hope that, within the limits

of your work, you'll help me.

You have my word, Miss lbbetson.

As to any agreement between us, I

leave it to you to set your fee.

I trust you blindly.

Leave the contract on the table.

You'll find it signed next time.

Now, please, I'm very tired.

Apart from your

fondness for my gloves,

what made you decide

to call me again?

I haven't been kind.

I was taken by the way you were

looking at my house yesterday

from the bar opposite.

You found the missing pieces.

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