Page 60 of It's All About the Duke
Scanning the area around him, Rath realized he was looking at an unorganized warehouse, filled with priceless rare antiquities as well as possibly fake items from all over the world. There were shelves of china, figurines, clocks, and books stacked to the heavens. Rocks—large and small. He saw piles of white, dried-out bones. Some large enough to have come from an elephant or maybe a giraffe. In some of the open crates he saw insects and small animals forever cast in stone and now nestled in beds of straw. One of the fossils etched in a gray slab was hauntingly intriguing. A lizard had caught the head of a butterfly in its mouth. Both of them had become the prey of time.
Rath couldn’t say he knew much about the authenticity of the man’s collection, but Portington had so many items, some of them had to be valuable. He could now comprehend what Marlena was talking about when she said the man had an obsession. That was an understatement. And he could also empathize with Portington’s wife—to have to live with the man who had such a penchant.
The problem was going to be getting Portington to part with some of his possessions.
“Here we go, Your Grace.” He handed the small glass to Rath and pointed to the crowded seating area.
Rath took the glass and the chair. He held up the drink to his host and said, “Cheers, Portington. You have many fascinating artifacts in your possession.”
“Quite proud of it all.” His host smiled and then sipped his drink. “Mrs. Portington frequently complains about it, but I don’t know why. I do my best to keep her comfortable. Everything I purchase is of great value. Sometimes not so much as what I pay for it, but it’s value to our culture and the history of mankind.”
“That’s understandable. It’s why I’m here.”
Portington made himself comfortable in a chair. “You’re a collector, too, I gather.”
“Not yet. Right now, I’m only looking into the possibility of becoming one. I was hoping you could help me get started.”
“Ah, now I understand the reason for your visit.” He smiled at Rath. “There are several gentlemen I work with to procure the things that interest me. I’d be happy to put you in touch with any of them. For instance Mr. Layton trades in potteries and Mr. Hillsburg trades only in statuary.”
“Good. I believe Mr. Herbert Wentfield is one.”
“Oh, you know him?”
“No.” He took a sip of the port and almost winced as he swallowed. He’d have to remember to send the man over a new bottle. “I’ve heard his name and about some of the fossils he has.”
“Yes.” Portington nodded. “I’ve sent him two letters in the past few days with no response. Usually he’s quick with an answer. I took myself over to his house yesterday and it was empty—everything cleaned out as if he’d never been there. I don’t know where the man’s gone. Noneof the neighbors seemed to know, either. There must have been an emergency. Perhaps with a family member. I feel sure he’ll write and let me know where he is.”
The information about Wentfield, if that was indeed the man’s name, didn’t surprise Rath.
“Do you happen to know where he is?” Portington asked.
“No. I was hoping you could tell me. Do let me know if you hear from him, and I’ll do the same.”
He nodded. “Now that I know of your interest in starting a collection, I will.”
“I’ve seen many artifacts here in your house that could help me start accumulating some treasure of my own. If you’d be interested in selling any of them.”
Portington chuckled. “That’s kind of you to offer, and I’m honored you think so highly of my collection, but I really couldn’t part with any of it. You see, I only purchase things that speak to me. And I must have them when they do. I have cataloged everything as to what it is, its value to history, where it came from, how much I paid for it, and the date I bought it. And I couldn’t willingly sell or give up any of it.”
That was not the answer Rath wanted to hear. “So you have all of this listed in a ledger?”
“My notes fill several ledgers. It’s quite extensive, and takes time to keep up with. I can show you one of them if you’d like. And I’d happily show you the rest of the things I have.”
“You have more than what is in the front of the house and in this room?”
“My, yes. I’ve been collecting since I was a young boy, but only on rare occasions back then, of course. My father sealed my interest when he obtained one of the first marbles from the Parthenon. Of course, that was long before Lord Elgin raided the stones in Athens andcaused such a stir that no one can get near them now. And rightfully so.”
Rath took another sip of the port and looked at the man so innocently admitting he had something of such a great value and rarity in a private home—and yet he’d also bought things that Rath considered as worthless as Megalosaurus eggs.
“Where is the marble?” Rath asked.
“Not in this room, and not where I could easily get to it, or I’d show you. It has to be kept crated and wrapped so it won’t get broken, you understand. I keep most of my fossils crated, too.”
“Yes, you’re wise to do so.”
“Would you like to see what I have in the other rooms of the house?”
“Yes,” Rath said honestly. “I find all these possessions fascinating. I’d like to see more.”
