Page 35 - Just Deserts

Excessories

Pontebroglio twirled its combination lock, twisted its handle, and
pulled it open. From within he carefully withdrew a tray and placed it
before the woman, directly beneath a spotlight aimed from the ceiling
at the front of the desk. A dark blue velvet cloth lay across the top of
the tray; he waited until her eyes were glued upon it, then whisked it
away.
Despite herself, Selma gasped. “It-it’s lovely,” she finally said, after
rapidly examining the dozens of concentric semicircles of gleaming
oblong ivory beads, none longer than a centimeter, mounted on a flat
hand-wrought silver crescent.
“This is a necklace, isn’t it?”
“Well, technically, this part of the regalia is called a pectoral, but
here in the West we may safely refer to it as a necklace. As you can
see, we have replaced the original leather thong with a knotted raw
silk cord for a contemporary look. If you would care to try it on, I
will assist you—I’m afraid I cannot let you handle it by yourself:
insurance, you know.”
She eagerly assented, immediately glancing about the chamber for
a mirror. Several were to be found at intervals along the walls, all
with a slight convexity bestowing a slimmer profile upon their users.
The merchant carefully lifted the ornament and laid it upon her
bosom. He tied it on her neck, stood back and marveled at the effect.
“Yes,” he uttered with an abstracted air, as if uncontrollably
speaking his innermost thoughts. “It’s perfect.”
His client was more than inclined to agree. Looking at her
reflection she mentally clothed herself in her new dress under the
East African necklace. Reluctantly she allowed him to remove the
treasure and replace it on the tray. Then she returned to her chair.
“How much?”
Without missing a beat, Pontebroglio replied, “Seven thousand
five hundred.” He crossed the room and sat down next to a small
Louis XVI table. “But you must understand that I cannot provide
you with complete documentation: the Rasgullan royal family in exile,
from whom we have this piece on consignment, is unwilling to
expose itself to any adverse publicity. Their lessened circumstances
have forced them to dispose of certain heirlooms, and they are
educated enough not to believe in the superstitions connected with
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