Three Character Girl

Miniature loss

"But, it's profitable for business, Mademoiselle."

"Not for us in particular. We only sell rare and valuable items. We do not provide cheap souvenirs. Aunt's subscription is spread all over the UK. If they wanted chairs, tables, or ceramics from a certain era, they wrote to Auntie. And sooner or later Aunty will work on those things for them. In this case, too." We seemed interested, so he continued his explanation. There's an American man, J. Baker Wood's. He is a tasteful miniature collector. Recently a miniature set appeared on the market and Miss Elizabeth Penn - Mary Durrant's aunt - bought it. Aunt Mary wrote a letter to Mr. Wood, describing the miniature and mentioning the price. Soon a reply arrived explaining that Wood was willing to buy the miniature if the item was as described and requested that someone be sent along with the item to his residence in Charlock Bay. Miss Durrant was sent as a company representative. "Miniatures are beautiful, of course," said Mary.

"But, I can't imagine anyone would pay so much for that. Five hundred pounds! Just imagine! Cosway. Is it true Cosway I mean" In these things, I'm very confused." commissioner Saga smiled.

"You're inexperienced, Mademoiselle?"

"I didn't get any training" said Mary sadly.

"We are not educated to know ancient goods. I have a lot to learn." He sighed.

Suddenly, I saw his eyes widen in surprise. He sat facing the window and now his gaze was directed out the window. In a hurry he got up from his seat and ran outside a few minutes later he returned breathless and apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I ran like that. I guess I saw a guy pick up my suitcase. I chased him and the suitcase he took turned out to belong to him. Almost exactly with my suitcase. It feels like a moron for accusing him of stealing a suitcase." He laughed. But, commissioner Saga did not laugh.

"What is the image of the man, Mademoiselle?"

"Sett's brown. He is thin, tall, and weak. The mustache is not at all regular."

"Aah!" commissioner Saga.

"Our friend yesterday, Rani. You know her, Mademoiselle" Or have you seen her?"

"No. Why?"

"It's okay. Somewhat suspicious - that's all." commissioner Saga kept quiet and didn't take part again in our conversation until something Mary Durrant said caught his eye.

"Eh, Mademoiselle, what did you say earlier?"

"On the way home I have to be careful of 'criminals', like you said earlier. I'm sure Mr. Wood will pay cash. If I had brought five hundred pounds, the criminals would have noticed me." Mary Durrant laughed. Commissioner Saga did not respond. Instead, commissioner Saga asked the hotel where the girl was staying at in Charlock Bay. "Anchor Hotel. Small and inexpensive, but very good."

"So!" commissioner Saga. "Anchor Hotel! Just where Rani decided we would stay. How strange!" commissioner Saga winked at Rani. "You've been staying at Charlock Bay?" ask Mary.

"Just last night. I have business there. I'm sure you can't guess my profession, Mademoiselle."

Rani sees Mary considering some possibilities, but doesn't reveal it may be because she wants to be careful. Finally he said commissioner Saga was a magician. Hearing this commissioner Saga was very amused.

"ah! Interesting idea! You guess I took the rabbit out of the hat" No, Mademoiselle. Precisely opposite. The magician makes things disappear. I return the things that have disappeared."

Dramatically leaned forward for his words to sound completely.

"It's a secret, Mademoiselle. But I'm telling you. I'm detective!" commissioner Saga leaned back, satisfied with the effect it had caused. Mary Durrant looked at her charmedly. However, the conversation stalled due to the horns outside, which indicated the kings of the streets were ready to continue their journey. When Rani and commissioner Saga came out, Rani commented on the attraction of our lunch friends.

"Indeed, he's attractive. But, a bit stupid too."

"Tool?"

"Don't get mad. A girl may be pretty and reddish-haired, but a moron. How foolish it would be to trust two strangers as he did."

"Well, he can see that we're good people."

"That's pandir. Anyone who knows his job will usually be nice. The girl wants to be careful if she brings five hundred pounds of cash. And now he's carrying five hundred pounds."

"In miniature form."

"Persian. In the miniature. The two are not very different, my friend."

"What about the waiter of the restaurant as well as the people at the next table. And no doubt some people in Ebermouth! Mademoiselle Durrant was indeed interesting. But, if Rani were to be Miss Elizabeth Penn, I would first instruct my new assistant to use common sense." commissioner Saga paused and spoke in a different voice,

"You know, buddy, moving a suitcase from one bus to another during lunchtime is a very easy job."

"Oh, someone must have seen, commissioner Saga."

"What they saw" Someone moved the trunk. Can do it bluntly. After all, it's nobody's business to interfere."

"You mean - commissioner Saga, you're hinting - but that brown-tuned young man isn't that his own suitcase?" commissioner Saga frowned.

"looks like. But, it's suspicious, Rani. Why didn't he move his suitcase before lunchtime, when the bus just stopped" He didn't have lunch here, you know that?"

"If Miss Durrant had not sat down against the window, she would not have seen the young man's deeds" she said slowly.

"Because what his own suitcase took, yes there is no problem" commissioner Saga responded. "Then let's get this out of our minds, man."

Nevertheless, after we sat back on the bus and continued our journey, commissioner Saga took the opportunity to lecture on the dangers of unwise deeds to Mary Durrant.

The girl listened obediently, but seemed to take this advice of commissioner Saga as a mere joke. We arrived at Charlock Bay at 16:00 and were lucky enough to be able to get a room at the Anchor Hotel - an interesting old-fashioned inn located on a small street.

commissioner Saga had just finished packing some goods and was smearing his mustache with cosmetics, in preparation to meet Joseph Aarons, when a loud knock was heard at the door. Rani exclaimed,

"Please come in."

Beyond my expectations, Mary Durrant showed up. His face was pale, tears welling up in both of his eyes.

"I'm sorry - but - but - something really terrible has happened. You said you were a detective?" This last sentence was addressed to commissioner Saga.

"What happened, Mademoiselle?"

"I opened the bag. The miniature was supposed to be inside a delivery box of alligator skin - locked, of course. Now, look!"

The small box layered in crocodile skin. The Saga commissioner took it out of the hands of Mary Durrant. Clearly the box was opened forcefully; definitely with great force. The former was obvious.commissioner Saga checked the item then nodded.

"That miniature?" ask, even though we know exactly the answer.

"Lost. Stolen. Oh, what should I do?"

"Don't worry," comfort me.

"My friend here is Hercule commissioner Saga. You must have heard of him. He'll return the miniature to you, if possible."

"Monsieur commissioner Saga - Monsieur the great commissioner of Saga." commissioner Saga was delighted at the girl's praise.

"Yes, my son," he said.

"This Rani. And leave your case to Rani. I will finish it as best I can. But I'm worried, really worried, it's too late. Did your suitcase get opened by force anyway?" The girl shook her head.

"Let me see it." Together we went to his room.commissioner Saga checked the suitcase carefully. Obviously, the suitcase was opened with a fake key.

"Pretty simple. All of these bags have the same key pattern. We need to call the police and call Baker Wood as soon as possible. I'll do it myself." Rani goes with commissioner Saga to ask what she means when she says it may be too late.

"Mon cher, earlier Rani said, Rani is the opposite of a magician - Rani makes lost things appear again - but if someone precedes me" You don't understand. But, soon you will understand." commissioner Saga disappeared into the phone booth.

The next five minutes he came out with a grim face. "As I was worried. A woman had met Mr. Wood half an hour ago with the miniatures. She introduced herself as Miss Elizabeth Penn's envoy. Wood was very fond of the miniatures and soon paid the price."