ss.iftomorrowcomes-第60部分

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s　and　it　would　be　bad　publicity。　Everything　in　this　museum　would　bee　suspect。〃
　
　Henri　Rendell　was　thinking　hard。　〃There　is　really　no　reason　for　the　publicity　at　all。　Why　don't　you　explain　to　your　superiors　what　has　happened；　and　quietly　get　rid　of　the　Lucas？　You　could　send　the　painting　to　Sotheby's　or　Christie's　and　let　them　auction　it　off。〃
　
　Machada　shook　his　head。　〃No。　Then　the　whole　world　would　learn　the　story。〃
　
　Rendell's　face　brightened。　〃You　may　be　in　luck。　I　might　have　a　client　who　would　be　willing　to　purchase　the　Lucas。　He　collects　them。　He　is　a　man　of　discretion。〃
　
　〃I　would　be　glad　to　get　rid　of　it。　I　never　want　to　see　it　again。　A　fake　among　my　beautiful　treasures。　I'd　like　to　give　it　away；〃　he　added　bitterly。
　
　〃That　will　not　be　necessary。　My　client　would　probably　be　willing　to　pay　you；　say；　fifty　thousand　dollars　for　it。　Shall　I　make　a　telephone　call？〃
　
　〃That　would　be　most　kind　of　you；　Se？or　Rendell。〃
　
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　At　a　hastily　held　meeting　the　stunned　board　of　directors　decided　that　the　exposure　of　one　of　the　Prado's　prize　paintings　as　a　forgery　had　to　be　avoided　at　any　cost。　It　was　agreed　that　the　prudent　course　of　action　would　be　to　get　rid　of　the　painting　as　quietly　and　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　dark…suited　men　filed　out　of　the　room　silently。　No　one　spoke　a　word　to　Machada；　who　stood　there；　sweltering　in　his　misery。
　
　That　afternoon　a　deal　was　struck。　Henri　Rendell　went　to　the　Bank　of　Spain　and　returned　with　a　certified　check　for　50；000；　and　the　Eugenio　Lucas　y　Padilla　was　handed　over　to　him；　wrapped　in　an　inconspicuous　piece　of　burlap。
　
　〃The　board　of　directors　would　be　very　upset　if　this　incident　were　to　bee　public；〃　Machada　said　delicately；　〃but　I　assured　them　that　your　client　is　a　man　of　discretion。〃
　
　〃You　can　count　on　it；〃　Rendell　promised。
　
　When　Henri　Rendell　left　the　museum；　he　took　a　taxi　to　a　residential　area　in　the　northern　end　of　Madrid；　carried　the　canvas　up　some　stairs　to　a　third…floor　apartment；　and　knocked　on　the　door。　It　was　opened　by　Tracy。　In　back　of　her　stood　Cesar　Porretta。　Tracy　looked　at　Rendell　questioningly；　and　he　grinned：
　
　〃They　couldn't　wait　to　get　this　off　their　handsl〃　Henri　Rendell　gloated。
　
　Tracy　hugged　him。　〃e　in。〃
　
　Porretta　took　the　painting　and　placed　it　on　a　table。
　
　〃Now；〃　the　hunchback　said；　〃you　are　going　to　see　a　miracle…　a　Goya　brought　back　to　life。〃
　
　He　reached　for　a　bottle　of　mentholated　spirits　and　opened　it。　The　pungent　odor　instantly　filled　the　room。　As　Tracy　and　Rendell　looked　on；　Porretta　poured　some　of　the　spirits　onto　a　piece　of　cotton　and　very　gently　touched　the　cotton　to　Lucas's　signature；　one　letter　at　a　time。　Gradually　the　signature　of　Lucas　began　to　fade。　Under　it　was　the　signature　of　Goya。
　
　Rendell　stared　at　it　in　awe。　〃Brilliant！〃
　
　〃It　was　Miss　Whitney's　idea；〃　the　hunchback　admitted。　〃She　asked　whether　it　would　be　possible　to　cover　up　the　original　artist's　signature　with　a　fake　signature　and　then　cover　that　with　the　original　name。〃
　
　〃He　figured　out　how　it　could　be　done；〃　Tracy　smiled。
　
　Porretta　said　modestly；　〃It　was　ridiculously　simple。　Took　fewer　than　two　minutes。　The　trick　was　in　the　paints　I　used。　First；　I　covered　Goya's　signature　with　a　layer　of　super…refined　white　French　polish；　to　protect　it。　Then；　over　that　I　painted　Lucas's　name　with　a　quick…drying　acrylic…based　paint。　On　top　of　that　I　painted　in　Goya's　name　with　an　oil…based　paint　with　a　light　picture　varnish。　When　the　top　signature　was　removed；　Lucas's　name　appeared。　If　they　had　gone　further；　they　would　have　discovered　that　Goya's　original　signature　was　hidden　underneath。　But　of　course；　they　didn't。〃
　
　Tracy　handed　each　man　a　fat　envelope　and　said；　〃I　want　to　thank　you　both。〃
　
　〃Anytime　you　need　an　art　expert；〃　Henri　Rendell　winked。
　
　Porretta　asked；　〃How　do　you　plan　to　carry　the　painting　out　of　the　country？〃
　
　〃I'm　having　a　messenger　collect　it　here。　Wait　for　him。〃　She　shook　the　hands　of　both　men　and　walked　out。
　
　On　her　way　back　to　the　Ritz；　Tracy　was　filled　with　a　sense　of　exhilaration。　Everything　is　a　matter　of　psychology；　she　thought。　From　the　beginning　she　had　seen　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　steal　the　painting　from　the　Prado；　so　she　had　had　to　trick　them；　to　put　them　in　a　frame　of　mind　where　they　wanted　to　get　rid　of　it。　Tracy　visualized　Jeff　Stevens's　face　when　he　learned　how　he　had　been　outwitted；　and　she　laughed　aloud。
　
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　She　waited　in　her　hotel　suite　for　the　messenger；　and　when　he　arrived；　Tracy　telephoned　Cesar　Porretta。
　
　〃The　messenger　is　here　now；〃　Tracy　said。　〃I'm　sending　him　over　to　pick　up　the　painting。　See　that　he…〃
　
　〃What？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Porretta　screamed。　〃Your　messenger　picked　up　the　painting　half　an　hour　ago。〃
　
　
　
　BOOK　THREE
　Chapter　31
　
　
　
　Paris
　
　WEDNESDAY；　JULY　9…　NOON
　
　In　a　private　office　off　the　Rue　Matignon；　Gunther　Hartog　said；　〃I　understand　how　you　feel　about　what　happened　in　Madrid；　Tracy；　but　Jeff　Stevens　got　there　first。〃
　
　〃No；〃　Tracy　corrected　him　bitterly。　〃I　got　there　first。　He　got　there　last。〃
　
　〃But　Jeff　delivered　it。　The　Puerto　is　already　on　its　way　to　my　client。〃
　
　After　all　her　planning　and　scheming；　Jeff　Stevens　had　outwitted　her。　He　had　sat　back　and　let　her　do　the　work　and　take　all　the　risks；　and　at　the　last　moment　he　had　calmly　walked　off　with　the　prize。　How　he　must　have　been　laughing　at　her　all　the　time！　You're　a　very　special　lady；　Tracy。　She　could　not　bear　the　waves　of　humiliation　that　washed　over　her　when　she　thought　of　the　night　of　the　flamenco　dancing。　My　God；　what　a　fool　I　almost　made　of　myself。
　
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　〃I　never　thought　I　could　kill　anyone；〃　Tracy　told　Gunther；　〃but　I　could　happily　slaughter　Jeff　Stevens。〃
　
　Gunther　said　mildly；　〃Oh；　dear。　Not　in　this　room；　I　hope。　He's　on　his　way　here。〃
　
　〃He's　what？〃　Tracy　jumped　to　her　feet。
　
　〃I　told　you　I　have　a　proposition　for　you。　It　will　require　a　partner。　In　my　opinion；　he　is　the　only　one　who…〃
　
　〃I'd　rather　starve　first！〃　Tracy　snapped。　〃Jeff　Stevens　is　the　most　contemptible…〃
　
　〃Ah；　did　I　hear　my　name　mentioned？〃　He　stood　in　the　doorway；　beaming。　〃Tracy；　darling；　you　look　even　more　stunning　than　usual。　Gunther；　my　friend；　how　are　you？〃
　
　The　two　men　shook　hands。　Tracy　stood　there；　filled　with　a　cold　fury。
　
　Jeff　looked　at　her　and　sighed。　〃You're　probably　upset　with　me。〃
　
　〃Upset！　I…　〃　She　could　not　find　the　words。
　
　〃Tracy；　if　I　may　say　so；　I　thought　your　plan　was　brilliant。　I　mean　it。　Really　brilliant。　You　made　only　one　little　mistake。　Never　trust　a　Swiss　with　a　missing　index　finger。〃
　
　She　took　deep　breaths；　trying　to　control　herself。　She　turned　to　Gunther。　〃I'll　talk　to　you　later；　Gunther。〃
　
　〃Tracy…〃
　
　〃No。　Whatever　it　is；　I　want　no　part　of　it。　Not　if　he's　involved。〃
　
　Gunther　said；　〃Would　you　at　least　listen　to　it？〃
　
　〃There's　no　point。　I…〃
　
　〃In　three　days　De　Beers　is　shipping　a　four…million…dollar　packet　of　diamonds　from　Paris　to　Amsterdam　on　an　Air　France　cargo　plane。　I　have　a　client　who's　eager　to　acquire　those　stones。〃
　
　〃Why　don't　you　hijack　them　on　the　way　to　the　airport？　Your　friend　here　is　an　expert　on　hijacking。〃　She　could　not　keep　the　bitterness　from　her　voice。
　
　By　God；　she's　magnificent　when　she's　angry；　Jeff　thought。
　
　Gunther　said；　〃The　diamonds　are　too　well　guarded。　We're　going　to　hijack　the　diamonds　during　the　flight。〃
　
　Tracy　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃During　the　flight？　In　a　cargo　plane？〃
　
　〃We　need　someone　small　enough　to　hide　inside　one　of　the　containers。　When　the　plane　is　in　the　air；　all　that　person　has　to　do　is　step　out　of　the　crate；　open　the　De　Beers　container；　remove　the　package　of　diamonds；　replace　the　package　with　a　duplicate；　which　will　have　been　prepared；　and　get　back　in　the　other　crate。〃
　
　〃And　I'm　small　enough　to　fit　in　a　crate。〃
　
　Gunther　said；　〃It's　much　more　than　that；　Tracy。　We　need　someone　who's　bright　and　has　nerve。〃
　
　Tracy　stood　there；　thinking。　〃I　tike　the　plan；　Gunther。　What　I　don't　like　is　the　idea　of　working　with　him。　This　person　is　a　crook。〃
　
　Jeff　grinned。　〃Aren't　we　all；　dear　heart？　Gunther　is　offering　us　a　million　dollars　if　we　can　pull　this　off。〃
　
　Tracy　stared　at　Gunther。　〃A　million　dollars？〃
　
　He　nodded。　〃Half　a　million　for　each　of　you。〃
　
　〃The　reason　it　can　work；〃　Jeff　explained；　〃is　that　I　have　a　contact　at　the　loading　dock　at　the　airport。　He'll　help　us　set　it　up。　He　can　be　trusted。〃
　
　〃Unlike　you；〃　Tracy　retorted。　〃Good…bye；　Gunther。〃
　
　She　sailed　out　of　the　room。
　
　Gunther　looked　after　her。　〃She's　really　upset　with　you　about　Madrid；　Jeff。　I'm　afraid　she's　not　going　to　do　this。〃
　
　〃You're　wrong；〃　Jeff　said　cheerfully。　〃I　know　Tracy。　She　won't　be　able　to　resist　it。〃
　
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　〃The　pallets　are　sealed　before　they　are　loaded　onto　the　plane；〃　Ramon　Vauban　was　explaining。　The　speaker　was　a　young　Frenchman；　with　an　old　face　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　his　years　and　black；　dead　eyes。　He　was　a　dispatcher　with　Air　France　Cargo；　and　the　key　to　the　success　of　the　plan。
　
　Vauban；　Tracy；　Jeff；　and　Gunther　were　seated　at　a　rail…side　table　on　the　Bateau　Mouche；　the　sightseeing　boat　that　cruises　the　Seine；　circling　Paris。
　
　〃If　the　pallet　is　sealed；〃　Tracy　asked；　her　voice　crisp；　〃how　do　I　get　into　it？〃
　
　〃For　last…minute　shipments；〃　Vauban　replied；　〃the　pany　uses　what　we　call　soft　pallets；　large　wooden　crates　with　canvas　on　one　side；　fastened　down　only　with　rope。　For　security　reasons；　valuable　cargo　like　diamonds　always　arrives　at　the　last　minute　so　it　is　the　last　to　go　on　and　the　first　to　e　off。〃
　
　Tracy　said；　〃So　the　diamonds　would　be　in　a　soft　pallet？〃
　
　〃That　is　correct；　mademoiselle。　As　would　you。　I　would　arrange　for　the　container　with　you　in　it　to　be　placed　next　to　the　pallet　with　the　diamonds。　All　you　have　to　do　when　the　plane　is　in　flight　is　cut　the　ropes；　open　the　pallet　with　the　diamonds；　exchange　a　box　identical　to　theirs；　get　back　in　your　container；　and　close　it　up　again。〃
　
　Gunther　added；　〃When　the　plane　lands　in　Amsterdam；　the　guards　will　pick　up　the　substitute　box　of　diamonds　and　deliver　it　to　the　diam