*That's entirely possible, providing we can get a reliable appraisal from a quaUfied expert of the pieces she might wish to sell."
"I would suggest Mr. Wu," Virgil said. "He is himself a jade dealer and should easily qualify as an expert"
Bob Nakamura entered the conversation. "Mr. Finegold, I represent certain highly reliable people who have considerable resources behind them. Not unlimited, of course, but substantial. On Mr. Tibbs' recommendation I will be glad to accept Mr. Wu as an expert on jade and its value, both wholesale and retail. I also have some shght knowledge of the subject. With Miss Nagashima's permission, I should like to examine the collection with a view to making a flat offer for it in toto. If the offer is acceptable, then we would assume the responsibility for advancing the necessary funds to clear it through probate."
Harvey, the stock trader, was next. "Mr. Finegold, I take it that you are representing Miss Nagashima this evening?"
"At present I am her attorney of record, yes. That is in response to a request made by Mr. Wang."
"Understood. My business is investments, sir, and I too know something about jade." He turned toward Bob. "I'm sorry that I didn't get your name."
"Nakamura."
"Mr. Nakamura, it was my intention since shortly after I learned of Mr. Wang's death to make an offer, when the time was proper, for the collection. As a matter of business, as I am sure it is with you."
"I have taken note of that, sir," Finegold answered, "and subject to Miss Nagashima's instructions I will be more than happy to give you an opportunity to bid."
"I too would like to examine the collection."
"I, personally, see no objection to that." 136
"Thank you." Harvey looked around the room. "Anyone else?"
Don Washburn responded. "I am frankly not in a position to make an offer for the entire collection, largely because I am not in the business in any way and would have no machinery to make subsequent sales. I'm a collector, pure and simple. But if I may, I would like to have the opportunity to acquire three or four pieces that I have had under consideration. If it works out that Miss Nagashima does wish to make some sales to pay probate and estate costs, then I will be a willing customer. And I'll be glad to accept Mr. Wu's evaluation as to what would be a fair and proper price."
"I'm in somewhat the same position myself," Finegold said, and looked toward his wife. "We too have had our eye, so to speak, on certain pieces which we have neglected to acquire largely because I have been heavily engaged in court for some weeks. As a matter of fact I had asked Mr. Wang to give us first refusal on them in case anyone else expressed interest in the interim."
"I'm sure that my principals would respect that commitment," Bob Nakamura said. He removed his glasses and wiped them so convincingly that VirgU was almost persuaded himself that his business negotiations were entirely bona fide.
"This is not properly my affair in any way," Tibbs said quietly, "but I would like to make a suggestion if I may. If Miss Nagashima feels up to it, perhaps she would consent to open the jade room. Then Mr. and Mrs. Finegold can indicate the pieces in which they are interested. After that Mr. Washburn can do the same. If there is no conflict, then their priority will be established. If there is a conflict, then they can resolve it by mutual consultation."
Harvey apparently had been thinking. "If it is agreeable with everyone," he declared, "I would like to have the same privilege. I too am a coUector and if I do not acquire the entire collection, there are some pieces I would like to buy individually."
Finegold took the floor once more. "It strikes me that Mr. Tibbs' suggestion is a very fair and equitable one." He turned to Yumeko. "Miss Nagashima, how do you feel?"
The girl swallowed before she answered. "It is, I think, most right to do this, but I ask to be excused. I wish to serve tea. I ask that you allow Mr. Chin Soo to showing the jades." She turned and looked at the houseboy, who bowed.
"I am happy," he said.
"I don't see any point in who goes first," Washburn said. "I suggest that Mr. and Mrs. Finegold go, then Mr. Harvey, and I'll be glad to bring up the rear."
Harvey nodded his acceptance of that. As the Finegolds got up, Yumeko quietly slipped out of the room; she had still not recovered from the surprise announcement and appeared to be in an aura of disbelief.
Virgil looked at Finegold. "May I come with you?" he asked.
"Please."
By Tibbs' watch it took the Finegolds exactly eight minutes from the moment they entered the jade room until they had indicated four choices to the houseboy, who had made careful notes on a piece of paper.
Harvey required nine minutes and twenty-three seconds to choose three items.
Don Washburn spent some three and a half minutes showing his son the general wonder of the jade room, then he took precisely three minutes and fifty-four seconds to point out three items to Chin Soo. "I've seen them aU before," he explained.
When he had returned to the living room with his son, Tibbs looked a question at Chin Soo who shook his head in reply. Of the ten jades chosen, none was duplicated. "You know what to do now, don't you?" Virgil said.
"I understood as soon as you made the suggestion, Mr. Tibbs. Are you sure that you don't have a little Chinese blood somewhere in your ancestry?"
"I'm afraid not. As far as I know my background is pure Negro; none of my female forebears appears to have been raped by white slave owners."
"Then you are probably an exception," Chin said. "But: if there is a fountain of intelligence, your ancestors drank; from it. I did not kill my employer, sir, but if I had, I would have good reason to be fearful now."
Virgil turned. "Let's go back," he suggested. "Yumeko may need moral support." He waited while the jade room was carefully secured, then he followed the houseboy back to the Uving room where Yumeko was in the act of serving. As Tibbs sat down she handed him a cup, he glanced inside and saw that this time the tea was black. "Thank you," he said.
She lowered her eyes. "It is my poor best. Please forgive me."
Bob Nakamura spoke to her from a short distance away, but his words could be generally heard in the room. *'I don't want to inconvenience you this evening, but I would appreciate it if I could call on you tomorrow evening and have the privilege of seeing your jades. So far I know them only by reputation."
She turned to face him. "It would make me the greatest pleasure, Nakamura san, but tomorrow evening I am going with Chin Soo to temple. It is to make prayer vigil for Mr. Wang. It is much in my heart that I go there."
Tibbs was impressed by the quality of her performance; she had spoken in such a quiet, yet sincere manner that she had been totally convincing. He almost believed her himself. Once again he noted that there were depths to Yumeko that were far from being visible on the surface.
He caught the eye of Aaron Finegold and gave him a very slight nod. The attorney picked it up and in a few moments spoke generally. "Since Mr. Wang assigned me the responsibility for handling his estate as well as other matters, I'd like to thank you all very much for coming here this evening. I believe that we have a fully mutual understanding. Are there any questions that any of you would like to ask?"
Don Washburn responded. "I'd like to ask Mr. Tibbs if he has any announcements that he was planning to make.'*
Virgil shook his head. "Not at this time."
"I understand, but naturally I'm anxious. I'm sure that we all are."
There was a general stir of leaving. Harvey went first, followed by the Washbums, but Johnny Wu lingered. As soon as Bob Nakamura was well out of the door, he spoke to Finegold. "I didn't have a good opportunity to bring this up before," he said, "but I am also very much interested in the jade stock. Mr. Tibbs can tell you that I'm an established dealer and I invite you to check my credit standing." He looked about him, makhig sure who was present and who was not. "I don't believe that the others quite realize this, but if the stock is about as I last saw it, the value should be in the vicinity of half a million dollars."