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“Won’t you be bidding?”

“I have s Come on, say yes, and join us for the reception and dinner afterward The banquet’s across the hall”

David thought of Fitzwilliams “I don’t think they’ll have room for me”

“The auction is a Cosgrove’s event, but the dinner is a benefit for the Hong Kong Museu is the chair A place will be made”

“Then I accept”

At 6:45, a bevy of pretty wo everyone that the auction would start promptly at 7:00 Unlike most social occasions, when the news that dinner was about to be served was virtually ignored until the third or fourth announcement, the people here quickly took seats

As the crowd thinned along the sides of the roous Fitzwilliae of the phone bank Even froer Fitzwillia his head no in the sa movements that David had experienced earlier today when the executive director wanted to show just how opposed he was to an unpleasant subject or idea

“Coood position,” Stuart said, already striding purposefully away

But David went in the opposite direction Reaching Ma and Fitzwillia several jade objects

“You know these are stolen artifacts,” Ma seethed

“I know nothing of the kind, sir,” caly bland response “We have docu provenance for every article you see here”

“And you know that that is a lie When this coovern”

Fitzwillia here that appeals to you, then I suggest you use your paddle Your ood as anyone else’s”

A young woently touched Fitzwilliams’s sleeve “Mr Fitzwilliams, sir, it’s time”

“Yes, of course” Without another word to Dr Ma or even a glance in David’s direction, Fitzwilliams walked with deliberate purpose to the front of the rooht the gavel down firentlemen” His voice came out warrove’s auction of fine Chinese ceraround rules…”