"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 141 - The Crystal Buddha" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Perhaps it was to test Barbara's nerve that the Hindu stepped past her and
calmly closed the curtains through which the girl had entered. When he faced
the girl again, Bela Singh observed no concern on her part.
The qualms that Barbara had felt during that lone taxi ride had vanished when
she entered the curio shop. Once sure of her surroundings, Barbara never knew
fear.
The girl's open gaze brought another bow from Bela Singh. His salaam was a
tribute of admiration. In his calm-toned way, the Hindu became a man of
business. He moved one hand to indicate the room and all it contained, as he
spoke:
"There is much of Oriental art to choose from. All that you see here is for
sale."
"I haven't come to buy anything," returned Barbara. "Instead, I have brought
something--"
She paused. Bela Singh's eyes were on the hand bag. His head was shaking, very
slowly.
"We buy nothing here, mem-sahib. All of our goods are imported from India."
Barbara smiled.
"I know that," she said. "I learned it in Chinatown, where they told me about
you. They said that your shop was the only one where real items of Hindu art
could be appraised. So I brought this--"


BARBARA finished her statement by opening the hand bag. From it, she produced
a squatty statuette, five inches high. It was the image of a seated Buddha;
but it differed from any of the statuettes that Bela Singh had on display.
The Buddha that Barbara had brought was the workmanship of a jewel-cutter, not
of a goldsmith. It was carved from a single piece of flawless crystal.
Bela Singh's deep-hued eyes centered upon the transparent Buddha. His gaze was
mystical, as though it sought some vision in the crystal. His expression did
not change. Only his complete motionlessness indicated that sight of that
Buddha of crystal had produced an effect upon him.
Had Barbara Brinby ever met the man before, she would have recognized that
Bela Singh was swayed by the Crystal Buddha. But this was her first meeting
with the Hindu. His eyes deceived her when they raised. Bela Singh's tone was
almost indifferent, when he asked:
"Does this Buddha belong to you?"
"No," replied Barbara. "It belongs--or did belong--to a friend of mine. In a
way, it still belongs to a friend."
Barbara watched Bela Singh as she spoke. She wasn't sure why he had asked the
question. In his turn, Bela Singh caught the first flash of suspicion that had
come to Barbara's brown eyes. The Hindu met that situation.
"The owner does not interest me," said Bela Singh. His melodious tone was a
convincing one. "I did not wish to disappoint you, that was all. I cannot buy
the Buddha."
"But if you can tell me its value--"
"You have spoken to Chinese merchants. They would know its worth."
"They named prices; but they weren't sure of them. All insisted that this was
a Hindu Buddha, not a Chinese. Every one advised me to bring the Buddha to
you."