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‘I’m afraid so, sir, but then Christina has never shown any real interest in my collection, other than how much it orth Which in this case was five thousand pounds’

‘Mr Faulkner,’ said the judge, looking closely at the painting, ‘how can a layinal?’

‘By looking at the bottoinal, you would see Rened To be fair, that’s so else my as unaware of’

‘While I accept your explanation, Mr Faulkner,’ said Booth Watson, ‘I ainal, now safely back in the Fitzmolean, came into your possession’

‘To understand that, Mr Booth Watson, you have to first accept that I ahout the art world Each year I receive hundreds of unsolicited catalogues for art exhibitions, as well as several requests to buy paintings, often from old families who do not want anyone to know that they are experiencing financial difficulties’

‘Do you ever buy any of these works?’

‘Very rarely I’m far more likely to make my purchases from a respected dealer or an established auction house’

‘But that still doesn’t explain how the original Rembrandt came into your possession’

‘A feeeks ago so that he claimed was a Rembrandt As soon as he described the work, I knew it had to be the one stolen from the Fitzmolean’

‘Why did you e

‘It’s almost unknown, My Lord, for a Rembrandt to come on the market

Alalleries Very few are still in private hands’

‘So if you knew the painting was stolen,’ said Booth Watson, ‘why did you have anything to do with it?’

‘I confess that I couldn’t resist the challenge However, when I was told I would have to travel to Naples to view the painting, I realized it had to be the Camorra who had stolen it I should have walked away But like a footballer who’s convinced he’s about to score the winning goal, I charged on’

Booth Watson had never cared much for that particular oal?’