"Charles L. Harness-George Washington Slept Here" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harness Charles L)

"About seven hundred and seventy-five, so I'm told."
Badging thought a moment. "About forty pounds?"
"Yes."
"All identical?"
"Yes, I think so."
The coin expert closed his eyes again. They opened. This time his hands were on top of the table, but
they were still trembling. "Mr. Potts, would you permit me to take one of the coins into the back room for
a closer inspection? I assume you-- "
"Oh, you don't need to do that, Mr. Badging. I'm convinced they're counterfeits. I'm sure your tests
will show that. That's partly why I'm here."
"Counterfeits?" Badging's cheeks sagged as the blood began to drain away.
"It stands to reason, doesn't it, Mr. Badging? Nearly eight hundred 1795 gold eagles still in mint proof
condition after two hundred years? I'm no fool, sir. And neither are you. The problem is how to handle
the stuff as bullion."
Potts watched the collector's eyes. I would make a good mind reader, he thought. Greed makes a
man deaf, dumb, and blind. He thinks he knows a genuine seventeen ninety-five as Da Vinci knows
Mona Lisa, or as Parsifal knows the Holy Grail. I can read him. Just now he's thinking that copper
promotes slow oxidation on uncirculated gold coins. The coating is only a few microns thick and it's
invisible to the naked eye. However, it is detectable and measurable by techniques will within the scope
of his skill and equipment. "Go ahead," said Potts gently. "Prove it to yourself that they're counterfeit."
"Yes. Thank you. Please excuse me." Badging picked up the coin with plastic-sheathed fingers and
disappeared into the alcove behind him.
Ten minutes later he was back. He wouldn't look Potts in the eye.
"I'm sorry," said Potts sincerely. "I told you they were counterfeit. Remarkable imitations, though.
Now then, could we talk about the bullion value?"
"Bullion..?" It seemed difficult for Badging to concentrate.
"There is a small problem," explained Potts delicately. "Possession."
"Possession...? Oh, you mean possession of counterfeit coins?"
"Yes. Eighteen, U.S.C. 485. The Secret Service may not take kindly to possession of nearly eight
hundred counterfeit gold coins. They'll have to be melted down."
Badging turned pale. "Melt... ah... no... well..."
Potts watched this with interest. He smiled. "That raises another difficulty. Because of the legal
problems, it would have to be done under conditions of great discretion. My client doesn't know any
goldsmiths; nor do I. But we thought you might."
The older man's face suddenly shone with a great light. "I know... one or two." He coughed delicately.
"There would, of course, be a fee."
"My dear Mr. Badging, you don't understand. She wants to be completely rid of the coins. She wants
no bullion back. She's simply trying to steer clear of the law."
"She? Ah! Madame Sena?"
"Yes."
"The crazy woman."
"So they say."
"What do you think, Mr. Potts?"
"She's certainly different."
They looked at each other. Badging sighed. It was coming together. Things said, plus things not said.
"What does she want?" He put it almost petulantly.
"Thirty thousand dollars, plus a little favor."
"The money's reasonable. But I can't throw the case, Potts."
"No, of course not."
"So what's this 'little favor'?"