The Saint Abroad: The Art Collectors/ the Persistent Patriots by Leslie Charteris Read Free Book Online

rejoined them on the
steps.
    “We have agreed,” the art dealer said. “There is
only for my colleague to see the paintings
also. He is the only expert in France whose opinion I respect above my
own. While I, of course, trust Mademoiselle
Lambrini completely, the money
involved in this transaction is not all mine, and it is necessary to have a confirmation of my
judgment.”
    Simon glanced at Annabella. She seemed untroubled by any misgivings, and apparently the price they had
agreed on pleased her.
    “Congratulations to both of you,
then,” he said. “You won’t be needing me any more. Maybe Monsieur
LeGrand would be kind enough to give me a ride back into Paris.”
    “Oh, but I do need you!” Annabella
exclaimed.
    She took his arm as they followed LeGrand to
his car.
    “Monsieur LeGrand’s friend just called
to say he has had car
trouble on the road coming out here,” she said. “I need you for
protection until he comes … and then of course I shall need you for the celebration.”
    The Saint inclined his head gracefully.
    “Where celebrations are concerned, my
availability is un limited.”
    “As you like, monsieur,” LeGrand
said. “You are welcome to ride with me.”
    “Monsieur Templar will stay with
me,” Annabella insisted. “You will be coming back to my house with
the professor in any case, won’t you?”
    LeGrand looked at his wrist watch and shook
his head.
    “Perhaps not. My wife does not care for
managing my business very long. I had to leave her in charge while I
drove out here. But I shall see that Professor Clarneau comes to see you as quickly as
possible.”
    “I must admit that I’m impatient,”
Annabella said.
    They walked to LeGrand’s car. He paused to
shake hands before getting into the driver’s seat.
    “It was a pleasure, mademoiselle,” he said to Annabella. “And an honor, monsieur.”
    “It will be an even greater pleasure for me when our deal is completed,” Annabella said. “What
about delivering the paintings …
and the money?”
    LeGrand laughed as he settled himself and
closed the car door. He looked up with his elbow on the open window frame.
    “I don’t blame you for being anxious, mademoiselle. My wife is already as anxious for me to sell the paintings so that she can
have a certain fur coat that has monopolized her dreams for the past
ten months or so.” He made one of his shrugging gestures. “Therefore
our interests are parallel. If Professor Clarneau approves the paintings—or perhaps I should say, when Professor Clarneau
approves the paintings —he will be
able to hand you a check on the spot. He is my partner in this transaction, and the money is in our joint account, so that you can have your payment
immediately, without my having to be
around. I shall countersign the check
when I meet him now, and he can take the paint ings with him back to Paris in his station wagon. Is that good enough?”
    “Very good,” Annabella said contentedly.
    LeGrand winked at her as he started his car’s
engine.
    “Of course, you drove such a hard
bargain that Clarneau may be shocked—but I trust you can charm him
into being reconciled to the price.”
    “Don’t even joke about such
things!” Annabella remon strated.
    LeGrand was about to pull away when Simon
asserted himself the dialogue for the first time.
    “Monsieur LeGrand,” he said
quietly. “Are you certain it was your friend who telephoned?”
    LeGrand took his hand off the gear shift lever
and his bushy eyebrows suddenly arched to an almost comical ex treme.
    “Of course it was. What do you
mean?”
    Annabella gave the Saint a ferocious look
which clearly said, Simon, please shut up and don’t rock the boat!, but
he went ahead in spite of it.
    “I mean that these characters who’ve been so busy trying to swipe Mademoiselle Lambrini’s worldly
goods—not to mention Mademoiselle
Lambrini—might just have decided to try
another angle.”
    Annabella’s beautiful red lips were
compressed with