The Jerusalem Diamond Read Online Free Page A

confer with your father.”
    Harry sighed. “My father is virtually retired.”
    â€œPlease be patient. You shall understand everything after we meet.”
    He felt the radar faintly.
    â€œI’ll be at my father’s apartment tomorrow night, 725 East Sixty-third Street. Will you come at eight o’clock?”
    â€œThat will be splendid, Mr. Hopeman.
Shalom
.”
    â€œ
Shalom
, Mr. Akiva,” he said.
    At four A.M. he was awakened by the telephone. There was static and a confused bilingual exchange.
    â€œ
Pronto
? Mr. Hopeman?”
    â€œHello? Hello?”
    â€œMr. Hopeman?”
    â€œYes. Who the devil is this?”
    â€œBernardino Pesenti. Cardinal Pesenti.”
    Bernardino Cardinal Pesenti was the Administrator for the Patrimony of the Holy See. Under his care were the Vatican’s treasures, the vast art collections and the priceless array of antiquities—the gemmed crosses, the Byzantine jewelry, the altar pieces, the chalices and other vessels. Some years earlier he had arranged Harry’s purchase of the jeweled crown of Our Lady of Czenstochowa, a transaction which had somewhat eased the debt of the Archdiocese of Warsaw and had helped make possible the black-and-gray splendor of Alfred Hopeman & Son.
    â€œYour Eminence. How are you?”
    â€œMy health is sufficient for our Holy Father’s work. And you, Mr. Hopeman?”
    â€œI am very well, Your Eminence. Is there something I can do for you?”
    â€œThere is something. Is it your plan soon to be in Rome?”
    â€œIt is not my plan. It can always be arranged.”
    â€œWe wish you to represent us.”
    â€œIn a purchase?” The Church inherited. It seldom sold, but he couldn’t remember the last time it had bought.
    â€œIn the recovery of a stolen item.”
    â€œA jewel or an antiquity, Your Eminence?”
    â€œA diamond, offered for sale in the Holy Land.” Cardinal Pesenti paused. “It is Alexander’s Eye, Mr. Hopeman.”
    â€œIt’s surfaced?” The stone had been missing for decades, stolen from the Vatican Museum. He was suddenly deeply interested. “My family has had a great deal to do with that stone.”
    â€œWe are well aware. One of your ancestors cut it. Another set it in the Mitre of Gregory for Holy Mother Church. Your father once cleaned both the mitre and the diamond. Now we should like you to continue this tradition of service to us. Be our representative and return it where it belongs.”
    â€œI shall have to consider,” Harry said.
    There was a small, impatient silence. “Very well,” Bernardino Pesenti said. “You should come here to discuss it, Rome is warm and lovely now. How is the weather in New York?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s very dark outside.”
    â€œOh, dear,” the Cardinal said finally.
    Harry laughed.
    â€œI never remember,” Cardinal Pesenti said. “I hope you shall be able to resume your sleep.”
    â€œ
Prego
,” Harry said. “I’ll call you in a day or two. Goodbye, Your Eminence.”
    â€œ
Buona notte
, Mr. Hopeman.”
    He got up and fumbled to return the receiver to its cradle. The tingling of his intuition was so intense he could almost hear it. He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for it to quiet, so he could try to figure out what was going on.

3
    THE APPOINTMENT

    When he had known that he wanted both the joys of scholarship and the action and rewards of business, he had realized that extraordinary self-discipline would be necessary to keep one occupation from consuming the other. But a gift day was always accepted without hesitation by the scholar, and he was happy to hear from his office that his calendar was clear. After breakfast he returned to the workroom and wrote the article on the Russian jewels, using the notes he had completed the previous evening. He worked carefully, rewriting every few pages, editing while he