More than "Horse Face" the term "friends" was a stretch of the imagination.
Technically speaking, Benisette had no friends; merely an assortment of passing
acquaintances. Being a man who lived much to himself, Benisette had come to be
all for himself, especially when purchasing antiques. He delighted in making
"finds" before other buyers discovered them, and the bearded man was doing that
right now.
Simon Benisette was inspecting the chest of Chu Chan!
The fact bordered on the incredible, where Margo Lane was concerned. She
couldn't imagine how Cranston had managed to let this prize slip, if he really
wanted it. Yet this was the chest all right, for Margo had seen pictures of it.
Judging from Benisette's manner, he already classed himself as its owner.
Standing nearly six feet high, the chest of Chu Chan looked like an
old-fashioned wardrobe cabinet, or more correctly, it looked like the thing that
wardrobe cabinets had been patterned after. It was mounted on six bulky legs,
which might better have been termed feet, since they were shaped like dragon's
claws.
The bottom of the chest was very thick, finely carved and ornamented with
brass work. About four feet in width and three in depth, it had a fairly thick
top, decorated like the bottom. Brass fittings predominated, particularly where
the doors were concerned. When closed, as they were at present, they made the
chest a veritable strong box.
Nodding curtly to Margo as she approached, Benisette paused suddenly to
note the girl's expression. Apparently Benisette didn't know that Margo expected
the chest to be elsewhere; as a result, he mistook her puzzlement for admiration
of the chest itself.
"Your friend Cranston was too late," boomed Benisette, ending with a
chuckle muffled deep in his beard. Then, with eyes widening suspiciously,
Benisette added: "Unless he sent you here to bid against me, Miss Lane."
"Sorry, but he didn't," returned Margo. "Or maybe I'm not so sorry. If this
is the famous chest of Chu Chan, it's better that Lamont didn't buy it."
Benisette's wide eyes glared. His brawny hands moved upward, tightening
into fists, as though he resented this slur against the antique that he admired.
Rapidly, Talcott moved into the situation. His bent shoulders loomed
between Benisette and Margo, his hands came upward to spread with pleading
gesture. His tired face wrinkling with worry, Talcott wheedled:
"Please, please do not dispute about the chest. I'm sure that Miss Lane did
not intend to disparage its merits -"
"Not at all," interrupted Margo. Then, tactfully: "I was thinking only of
its size. Why, Lamont has cluttered his house with so many curios, you can
scarcely move around. I don't mean" - Margo turned hastily to Talcott - "that
is, I'm not criticizing these Galleries, just because they're so packed with
antiques. But Lamont is a collector -"
"I understand, quite," interposed Talcott, his worried wrinkles fading with
his smile. "A dealer like myself is forced to display all his wares."
"That's right," nodded Margo. "As for the chest of Chu Chan" - she turned
to Benisette - "I must compliment you on your choice, Mr. Benisette. I only hope
that you have room for it."
Begrudgingly, Benisette relaxed. It struck Margo then and there that
Red-Beard liked arguments and could become violent in the heat of them.
Certainly she could understand why Benisette lacked friends, if a mere quip
