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The h these proceedings and an easy manner that belied the s He looked to Re the summer on his country estate He wore a crisp white shirt and a blue silk tie, and, while she watched, he lit a cigarette and turned his attention to her “You looked like Botticelli’s Birth of Venus being lifted out of your scallop shell, Mrs Fargo”

He waited ato me?”

“I don’t want to pro that will make you think you have to kill me”

He nodded “Very wise, in general But kidnapping in Russia is about the saht, I’m dead I’ll tell you what you need to know You will be treated well and respectfully, but locked in your room Every day someone will come, have you hold up that day’s newspaper, and take your picture We will be in touch with your husband When he meets my demands, you will be freed”

“What are your demands?”

“Ah,” he said “So you are interested”

“Of course I am”

“I know about the search for Attila the Hun’s five treasures You and your husband found the one near Mantua, Italy You stole the one at Châlons-en-Cha Bleda’s to the Danube You were on your way to find the final treasure when I stopped you” He watched her “Aren’t you going to deny any of this?”

“Would you believe me?”

“So you and your husband now have control of at least three very large hoards of ancient riches—ones frons of conquest and looting by the Huns I’ve been told that each of the her reactions closely “I believe your husband will trade those three treasures for you It’s a sie”

“We don’t have possession of any treasures now,” she said “We have made finds before You can look them up We always follow the international treaties and the national laws of the countries where we find things Most of the tiical treasures froovernes to our foundations We don’t keep any of it The three finds that you mentioned have all been taken into custody by the Italian, French, and Hungarian governments It could be years before we knohat the disposition of the artifacts will be”

“Then your husband will have to enlist officials in those governments to help hi chance for you both to see how overnht you”

“What happens when ive you all those precious bits of those countries’ histories? Are you going to kill me?”

“Am I? Of course not I have people who do that kind of work for me And I can tell you, I’h of these hoards so I know he’s sincerely done his best, I’ll release you”

Remi said, “You don’t strikemy husband for a simple ransom instead? He would certainly pay a million dollars for me” She saw his look of derision “Say five million, then And it would be so much less trouble and risk for you He could transfer the money into your account electronically and you could transfer it instantly to another account in a country that won’t allow it to be traced No trucks, no border searches, no risk, no selling stolen antiquities for a hundredth of their value”