Perry Mason

I should have known better

than listen to the good museum directors.

"Not only a fine tapestry man,

but an American," they assured me.

"None finer in Rio de Janeiro."

What's the matter now? You call this clean?

Isn't it clean enough for you, sir?

Demay, I have nothing but contempt for the likes of you.

If I weren't on such a tight schedule

on this South American tour,

I'd fire you on the spot to look for somebody else.

Go over this border again. Carefully, this time.

Remember, it's a Pannemaker arras,

not somebody's laundry.

And don't take all night with it.

I'm leaving now.

Be sure to lock up when you go.

Yes, Mr. Voss.

Let go of me. I didn't have anything to do with it.

I-- Please!

Where are you going with this man?

Demay! Oh, he's a liar.

I didn't start any fire.

That's a mistake, I tell you, a mistake.

I don't even know how those things got into my pocket.

I never saw them before.

I was almost out the back gate

before the fire even started.

Demay, you'll pay for this.

You've destroyed a fortune in masterpieces.

I had nothing to do with it!

I didn't start the fire. I swear I didn't!

It's so far beyond the Bauer-Kandinsky tradition,

it's a philosophy in itself.

Well, frankly,

it looks pretty childish to me.

How long you been in business here in Los Angeles, Mr. Voss?

Five, six years?

Mr. Voss, may I speak to you?

In a moment, Brenda.

Trust me, Mr. Hazlett.

Surely by now you know

that you're one of my special customers.

When I tell you that this is an investment at 1,500,

you can take my word for it. Heh.

After what you paid for the Gorky last month,

this is a drop in the bucket.

I'll let you know, Voss.

So long, Miss Larkin. So long.

Oh, by the way,

I got an invitation in the mail today.

Somebody's selling a Pannemaker tapestry.

You heard about it?

I didn't think there was a Pannemaker left on the market.

The last time I actually saw one was nearly six years ago,

in Rio de Janeiro as it burned to ashes.

Well, if those tapestries are that rare

I guess I better go see this one. Heh.

Who's offering it, Mr. Hazlett?

Uh, well, the invitation didn't say.

But it's at Hastings Auction at 9 tonight.

Well, I'll be seeing you.

Uh, think about the picture.

Yeah, well, I have.

A Pannemaker.

That's a strange coincidence.

What is?

I just saw a Pannemaker tapestry hanging in a pawnshop.

That's what I wanted to tell you.

In a pawnshop? Oh, don't be silly.

This one. Theseus and the Minotaur.

That's impossible.

Yes, that was part of the Claver collection, wasn't it?

The one that was supposed to have burned in Rio?

It did burn. I saw it.

It was completely destroyed.

The entire collection.

Voss. Ah, Mr. Claver.

This is an honor, sir.

Have you heard about this?

Someone has a Pannemaker arras up for sale.

Oh, I see you have heard about it.

Rumors, yes, but, um--

Obviously, more than just a rumor.

But I can't understand it.

There are only six Pannemakers left in private collections

and certainly none of them could be up for auction.

Mine was the seventh.

Are you suggesting that your tapestry didn't burn?

It occurred to me when I got this.

You were in charge of that tour.

I always took your word for it.

I see no reason to doubt it now, Mr. Claver.

Ah, I guess there's nothing to do

but find the answer at theHastings Auction tonight.

They'll certainly have the tapestry available

for inspection beforehand.

It's probably an imitation.

Copy of some kind.

Well...

We'll see.

Hazlett, now Claver.

This is no coincidence.

Did you go through today's mail?

Not yet. Well...

This looks like it.

Well, we seem to be privileged.

Ours has a picture, Theseus and the Minotaur.

Where was that pawnshop?

Third and Maple.

Didn't a man go to prison for starting that fire

six years ago in Rio?

Yes.

But, um,

only part of the Claver collection

went up in that fire, didn't it?

What did you say?

Leonard, if there's going to be trouble,

I want to share it with you.

About the Claver collection?

I've been to the warehouse on Lake Street.

I found a rent receipt once--

That warehouse is no concern of yours.

It is now, Leonard.

But a wife can't testify against her husband.

We've worked together three years now,

don't you think we--? We'll talk about this later.

( door opens, then closes )

Can I help you, sir?

This tapestry.

Oh, yes.

Uh, do you have a ticket?

I don't have a ticket. I didn't pawn it.

I want to buy it.

I'm sorry, sir, but it's not for sale.

Uh, it won't be for about seven months.

Oh, now, just a minute.

You-- You can't go behind my counter.

But where did you get the tapestry?

Well, it was brought in here and pawned. That's all.

By whom?

Oh.

Look, I'm an art dealer.

If you loan it to me for an examination...

It might even be stolen property.

If I call the police--

That would make two of us.

Now-- Now, you get going.

I'm a very busy man.

Say, give me that. You've got a nerve.

Mrs. Sarah Demay?

Yes?

I want to talk to you, about the tapestry.

A tapestry in a place like this?

You must have the wrong party.

Uh, please, no need to play games.

I'm-- I'm an art dealer.

I want to buy it.

Oh, I see.

Well, come in, Mr. Voss. Thank you.

The place is kind of a mess, but...

Why don't you sit right down here?

How did you acquire the tapestry, Mrs. Demay?

Well, my brother-in-law brought it from South America.

I'll give you $1,000 for the pawn ticket right now.

Sarah, I--

Oh, Claude, this is Mr. Voss.

I know Mr. Voss.

Sarah, leave me and Mr. Voss alone.

We've got private business.

I just called your gallery.

I figured you'd want to see me before 9:00.

What is this tapestry?

It's gonna cost you to find that out.

Where did you get it? How?

The point is, I have it and I intend to sell it.

How much do you want?

Well, you can bid for it.

Demay, I saw that tapestry burn.

I'm not holding a fire sale, Mr. Voss.

I made friends in jail.

They helped me do some checking.

Enough to learn about the crates you shipped out of Rio

under a different name on the day before

the fire I didn't start.

How much do you want?

Well, maybe...

Maybe we can work something out.

In the same way that the tapestry is alive,

the other things are still alive.

Now, I might consider holding a piece of that which burned

as an advanced payment.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Otherwise, I'll auction the tapestry, I promise you.

And you can bid against Nathan Claver

and all your own best customers,

who I'm sure would love to hear an explanation--

I said, how much do you want?

And I just told you.