I winch an eyebrow in interest but my attention has snagged on the wordwealthy. That sounds promising.
The man takes out a magnifying glass to read the hallmark. “Like all cigarette cases made by this atelier, this is eighteen carat gold.”
Callum shoots me a look, as if to say,Is that good?
In return, I shrug: I’ve no experience of dealing with gold. I don’t even think I’ve owned any.
“It was made in 1939,” the man goes on. “As you know, that is the year war broke out.”
“Of course.” I’m about to add that my great-granddad fought in the war but stop myself when I remember he fought on the opposite side. If my great-granddad bore a grudge, maybe this guy does, too.
“These cases were very exclusive and made to commission,” the man goes on, not taking his eyes off it. “Only a handful were made each year, but in 1939 people did not want to spend their money as they did not know what was coming. So the atelier made only one.”
I push myself up from the counter. “One?And this is it?”
The man puts the case down and looks me in the eye. “Yes. I have always wondered where it was. And now it is here.”
Behind me, a clock chimes. I can’t see it but it sounds old, with cogs and wheels turning. I glance at Callum and he nods, urging me on.
“So how much is it worth?” I ask.
The man takes a pad of headed notepaper and writes down a figure. He rips off the top sheet and slides it across the counter. “This is what I offer you.”
“Fuck!” I blurt out. I turn to Callum. “Sorry.”
“Fuck!” Callum repeats. “Let’s not tell Dad.”
The man behind the counter chortles. “Or as we say in Italian,mamma mia.”
“Mamma mia!” Callum and I chime, loudly.
“So you are happy?” asks the man, his eyes moist and sparkling.
“Yes,” I almost screech, “we’ll take it!”
Callum elbows me. “Wait a minute, we’ve got an appointment at that other place, remember?”
“Do we?” I’m about to ask. Then I realize he’s reminding me to stick to the plan. “Oh, sorry, yes. We’re going to shop around, if you don’t mind. But we’ll be back in touch.”
I pick up the case and hurry out of the shop before I can change my mind.“Arrivederci!”I call out over my shoulder.
The man shouts something back but the door closes before he can finish.
I stagger to the nearest wall and lean on it. “I can’t believe it,” I splutter. “I had no idea.”
“Me neither,” says Callum, his face ablaze. “That is proper mint!”
My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my ribcage and I gulp in some air. As it’s the start of thepasseggiata, the street is thronged with people, buggies and dogs. It’s so noisy and colorful it’s making me dizzy.
“Are you alright?” asks Callum.
“Yeah, sorry, it’s just I really needed it to be good news,” I manage, straightening myself up. “But this means I can pay for all the extra building work and can stop worrying about money.”
Callum frowns. “I didn’t know youwereworried about money.”
“Well, yeah,” I say. “But not anymore. That bloke’s offer will pay for everything, with quite a bit leftover. Are you sure we shouldn’t just take it?”
Callum squares his shoulders and stands with his legs apart. “No, we’re doing the right thing. That dude seemed legit and everything but it’s only our first offer: we might get even more from the next place.”
