Page 33 - Just Deserts

Excessories

opened it immediately and led the client into a chamber resembling a
chief executive’s office more than a shopkeeper’s back room. A man
rose from behind a glass-topped desk where he had been studying a
sheaf of telexes. He buttoned his Euro-tailored double-breasted
jacket and came forward, a look of respectful solicitude spreading
over his clean-shaven face.
Melanie set a certain tone of courtliness in her introduction. “Ms.
Childe, this is Excessories’ vice president, Stanford Pontebroglio.
Mr. Pontebroglio, Ms. Selma Childe. Now I will leave you two alone
and return to the showroom.”
“Thank you, Miss Meldrock. Please be seated, Ms. Childe. I
understand you have a particular interest in ivory beads.” He arched
his narrow brows interrogatively as he settled into his swivel chair.
His age was indeterminate, but he had the look of a well-preserved
stage actor.
The matron basked in the personalized attention. “Well, you
see, I’m no expert in the subject, like you people are, but I do
know what I like, and recently I’ve seen some things that are quite
appealing. They looked almost like they had come out of a museum
or somewhere; very unusual, and seemed to be covered with
small ivory beads in very intricate patterns. As I told your assistant, I
do need something to complete my outfit for a very important social
occasion, and I thought you might have something along those
lines.”
Pontebroglio steepled his elegantly manicured fingers and made a
momentary pout with his lips, as if making a difficult and slightly
unpleasant decision. “Ms. Childe, I do hope you are aware that we are
not permitted to import ivory any longer; East African elephants are
an endangered species, and our government frowns upon trading in
any products derived from them.”
“Oh, but I saw these beautiful bracelets, and I’m sure the person
wearing them—I won’t tell you her name—bought them here in
town, and not that long ago.”
“Of course,” the boutique executive went on, spreading his hands
in conciliation, “there are exceptions. Antiques—anything more than
one hundred years in age—are exempted from the restriction.”

32