The Emperor's Candlesticks Page #6

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- The shop is close until 2 o'clock.

It's very important

that I should see him now.

Certainly. Come back at 2.

You can see him.

- Good afternoon.

- Well, this is a pleasant surprise.

Forgive me for leaving like that.

I was afraid of disturbing you.

That is very thoughtful of you.

Well, at any rate, here we are

on the banks of the blue Danube.

Yes, indeed. You are, I suppose,

buying a few souvenirs, huh?

Well, just glancing around, so to speak.

Nice old shop, isn't it?

You come here often?

Always, whenever I

happen to be in Budapest.

I see...

Are you looking for

anything in particular?

Yes.

For a pair of old candlesticks

if you want to know.

- Not...

- Yes.

How very quaint.

You know, to be

perfectly frank with you,

I had an idea that they

might be here, myself.

And you wanted to secure

them on my behalf, huh?

Well, practically, yes.

Or, rather, I wanted to relieve

you of the responsibility.

I'm sure you did, but that

I could never permit.

Ah, but I must insist.

On the contrary. As they

are my property, and...

I was under the impression that

they belonged to prince Johann.

Prince Johann doesn't happen to

own this shop, by any chance, huh?

Who are you?

My name is Santuzzi,

And I am the proprietor

of this establishment.

At least I was under

the impression that I was.

Oh, please,

do come in.

Oh, thank you very much.

- We are very delighted to see you.

- Very much obliged.

- Might I ask you what...

- I'm looking for two candlesticks

which have been stolen from me.

- Yes, we both are.

- We are not.

They were brought in here yesterday by

a young lady who had appropriated them

- just a few hours previously.

- You mean stolen.

Stolen from me.

Where are they?

- I haven't got them.

- I don't believe you.

- What?

- Don't mind the young lady.

- She's a bit excited.

- I am not.

Well, I tell you

I haven't got them.

I bought them in the morning

and I sold them in the afternoon.

- How was I to know that they were stolen?

- But who bought them?

- A collector.

- Do you know his name?

Oh, yes, yes. I have it

right here in my book.

- Where?

- Let's not get excited.

Let me see, now...

Ah, here we are. Marcel

Garnier. Do you see?

What's his address?

- Marcel Garnier, Paris.

- But his address...

- Where he lives.

- Paris, what more do you want?

You'll probably find him

in one of the big hotels.

- Now, this is very unpleasant.

- What do you intend to do?

- What do you intend to do?

- I'm going straight to Paris.

- So am I.

- Have you gone mad?

What do you think?

For the last time 210.

Any more bids?

- One Russian silver urn.

- 210.

Now I'd like to draw your attention to this

pair of very beautiful silver candlesticks

of the Louis XV period.

But for a slight imperfection the beauty

of their design remains unimpaired.

Unfortunately,

they have no history,

but have been entered for sale by a

well known and respected Paris house.

- Now, what am I bid?

- 100.

- 110.

- 115.

- 120.

- 125.

- 185.

- 190.

- 200.

- 210.

There's no need to be alarm.

They'll soon drop out.

- 240.

- 250.

- 350.

- 350.

Do I hear 360? Going

at 350 for the first time...

- Going for the second time...

- 360

- 420.

- 430.

- 440.

- 450.

- 460.

- 470.

Any advance from 480?

- Going for the first time 480.

- 500.

- 550.

- 600.

- 650.

- 700.

- 750.

- 800.

Any advance on 800?

Going at 800 for the first time...

Going at 800

for the second time...

- Going at 800...

- 1,000.

1,000. Do I hear...

Do I hear 1,100?

- 1,100.

- 1,300

1,400.

1,600.

1,700.

1,800.

2,000.

3,000.

Oh, one moment please.

If you don't mind my saying so countess,

this is becoming rather expensive.

It is, isn't it? I love to pay

lots of money for things.

I'm rather like that, too.

I don't know whether

I ought to mention the fact

that an immediate cash payment in full

is required at the time of the sale.

Oh, yes, of course.

If you'll allow me,

I'll just make sure...

I have about 1,500 here I should be

very glad to give you my check

- for whatever else is necessary.

- I'm sorry, sir. That's not permitted.

Now, this lady has bid 3,000

for the silver candlesticks.

Is there any advance on 3,000?

Going at 3,000.

- Sold, the property is yours, madame.

- I only have about 1,500, at the moment.

- But I assure you, I...

- Really madame, this is most irregular.

It places us all in a very awkward

position, very awkward.

Oh, one moment, please.

Why not buy them between us?

Oh, that is a beautiful idea.

Would it be in order if this lady and I pool

our resources to pay for the candlesticks?

Admirable, my dear sir.

I can't think of anything

more satisfactory.

1,500.

Well, that gives us

one apiece.

Suppose I take this damaged one.

You see? This little

fellow has lost a leg.

Oh, yes. Yes, I see.

If we each have a candlestick the princess

Tania will at least have a chance

of receiving one of them.

Ah, yes. That was

my happy thought.

- Oh, May I...

- Oh, no.

Now, we have here a perfect set

of early flemish silver spoons.

Rather nice of us to buy back

someone else's stolen property.

That's what

I was thinking.

May I return this candlestick in

person when we reach Petersburg?

After all, the princess must have

her present duly delivered.

Perhaps we could share

that responsibility.

- Must you go to Petersburg?

- Indeed.

- If I could fulfill your mission.

- That is impossible.

Not even if I gave you my word?

Not even then. You see,

I, too, have a duty.

Oh, that dreadful word.

It is with us always.

So it seems.

- Are you staying in London long?

- No, only a few days. And you?

Oh, a week or so, I imagine.

- I'm at the Castleford.

- I'm at the Lombardy.

Oh. May I drive you there?

No. Thank you,

baron Wolensky.

- Not taking any further risks?

- Well, maybe. Au revoir.

Au revoir.

- Oh, madame.

- May I call a cab for you?

If you will, please.

I would like to examine this purchase.

Could I have a room?

By all means, madame.

Perhaps this room would suit you?

Oh, yes, of course.

Thank you.

- Your cab is here, madame.

- There's a terrible mistake.

- Has the gentleman gone?

- I don't understand.

Set it there

on the table.

- And get the reservations to Petersburg.

- Yes, sir.

- On the first possible train.

- Yes, sir.

Thank you.

The young lady would like to see you, sir.

I said I see if you were in.

- Show her in.

- Yes, sir.

Come in.

I'm sorry to trouble you, baron,

- But we have made a slight mistake.

- Have we?

Somehow, we

exchanged candlesticks.

This hasn't been out of my hand.

I came directly here.

Oh, I see. They are both broke.

And so they are.

And in exactly the same way.

What an extraordinary

coincidence.

It must have happened

in transit.

Well, that makes them exactly alike.

No difference whatever.

No.

- There's a very great difference.

- Oh, not at all.

You turn them gently, they both

perform exactly the same tricks.

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