Grigory Borzenko Raphael's missing masterpiece from the series “Time Traveler”

Grigory Borzenko
Raphael's missing masterpiece
from the series “Time Traveler”

Episode one
Recently, the office of publisher Oliver Grant has become almost a starting point, a kind of launching pad from which Gloria Evans embarked on her journeys into the past. However, no. She tried to do exactly that during her voyages, being in her own cozy little room in her parents’ house. Which is located in the cute and beautiful town of Flint in North Wales. But a considerable part of the preparatory work for the next such trips took place from now on in Grant’s office. Here, from a certain number of loud and mysterious historical events that happened in the past, they chose one and only one, which for the near future would take over all their thoughts and thoughts. That intriguing, mysterious, still unsolved and covered in a veil of darkness and mystery case, which they will undertake to investigate.
However, they discussed similar topics during their gatherings in cafes, which became more and more private, and they liked them more and more. A leisurely conversation in a relaxed atmosphere, one might say, in nature, if we were talking about a summer cafe, was much more pleasant than in an office. But, when it was necessary to discuss the details and subtleties of the upcoming voyage into the past, the office, with its computers, laptops and the Internet, was a more suitable place for this. Grant prepared in advance a lot of necessary material for the next such meeting with Gloria, and then, looking at the screen, he not only spoke from memory, but also read out the text necessary for the girl, showed photos and videos that would be useful for her.
And now, sitting in the media tycoon’s office, which had already become familiar to them, Gloria sat and listened to what he was now telling her.
“I think you were right in suggesting, Miss Gloria, that we could start looking for some missing, but still not found, painting by one of the great painters of the past.” I myself am passionate about painting. I admire the works of Manet, Aivazovsky, Surikov, Shishkin, Rubens and other brilliant masters! I would be glad to have a hand in finding some missing masterpiece! I would be incredibly happy if we managed to find at least something!
- I completely agree with you! – The girl perked up. – I like both graphics and watercolors. But paintings by old masters, painted in small quantities, are, of course, something special! Magical! This is a different world! He takes you to heaven! I was recently in Manchester. And I tried to find time to again, for the umpteenth time, visit the local art gallery and admire its canvases! They enchant...
- I subscribe to every word you say, Miss Gloria! These paintings are truly another world! I myself was in Dresden not long ago, and although I was running out of time, I still dropped into the famous Dresden Gallery once again, and again, albeit briefly, took a look at the canvases that enchant me! Especially the famous “Sistine Madonna” by Raphael...
- Yes... Raphael is a genius! I completely agree with you, Mr. Grant!
- Well, his paintings are also among the missing, and have not yet been found! But let's talk about everything in order! Let's choose a masterpiece, which we will search for. A lot of them. I will now name the main ones. The most expensive. I'll try to be brief. Of course, I will not list everything, but the most outstanding paintings. And then we will decide what kind of painting we can start looking for. Do you mind?
- Yes! Certainly! I'm hearing you!
Grant reached for the monitor, turned it slightly towards the girl so that it would be more convenient for her to look at the screen, and began:
- The first picture. Artist Paul Cezanne. The work is called “Near Auvers-sur-Oise.” Written in 1879-1882. Canvas, oil. The cost of the painting is 6 million dollars. Stolen from the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, December 31, 1999. The story of the theft of the painting is interesting. Criminals love to do their dirty work on holidays. So here it is. Cezanne's landscape was stolen on New Year's Eve! While city residents set off fireworks to celebrate the new millennium, a thief climbed into the museum via a rope ladder, threw a smoke bomb into the room so that security cameras could not “see” him, and, grabbing a painting by a French post-impressionist, disappeared into the darkness. This is such a sad story, Miss Gloria.
Grant sighed heavily, was silent for a minute, but then, looking at the screen, continued:
- Another painting by Paul Cezanne. It's called "The Boy in the Red Vest." 1894-1895. Canvas, oil. The kidnapping took place in Zurich on February 10, 2008. The painting was part of the collection of Emil Georges Bürl, which is one of the world's largest private collections of Impressionist paintings. The painting “Boy in a Red Vest” was in a small museum in Zurich, where the Bührl collection was located, until several armed masked men burst in in broad daylight and carried it away, taking with them paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas and Claude Monet. Works by Monet and Van Gogh were later found in a car parked near the museum. But paintings by Degas and Cezanne have still not been discovered...
- Yes... - Now it was Gloria’s turn to sigh heavily and shake her head. - It’s all sad...
- So that’s what I mean, Miss Gloria! Let's move on! Michelangelo Caravaggio. The missing painting was titled "Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence." 1608 Canvas, oil. The canvas is estimated at 20 million dollars! He was kidnapped by thieves from the Chapel of San Lorenzo in Palermo on October 18, 1969. This is a huge canvas, Miss Gloria! Almost three meters! The villains treated the painting barbarously: in order to remove it from the gilded frame, they used a razor...
- What barbarity... - The girl’s voice broke with excitement. – Looking at the pictures, at such beauty, I want not even a speck of dust to fall on this beauty... And they... Razor... They cannot be called people... Such people should immediately be given the death penalty...
- Alas, Miss Gloria, but masterpieces of art often become victims of barbaric attacks. Stones were thrown at the Mona Lisa, Ivan the Terrible and his son were cut with a knife, Matisse was poked with a pencil, Rembrandt’s painting “Danae” was doused with acid and cut to make it more convincing. The people who committed these acts adhered to their personal goals, religious and political beliefs, or simply suffered from various mental disorders. But most often people are driven by a banal thirst for profit, for the sake of which they steal famous paintings. I can’t wrap my head around this... Cutting with a knife, poking with a pencil, pouring acid on something that is priceless... This is beyond my understanding!!! Here it is not only necessary to give the highest measure... You need to impale him! I'm exaggerating, of course. But the liberalism of some current laws baffles me.
The publisher stopped looking at the screen. He thought for a long time.
- I'm not bloodthirsty, Miss Gloria. But I am speechless from what is happening around me now. Someone doesn’t like something, he goes out onto the road, blocks traffic, causes discomfort to other innocent people, and disrupts their plans. Someone doesn’t agree with something and throws paint on paintings, sculptures, and does some other damage. Is this really the way to prove it?! And what is surprising is that such scoundrels are not actually punished... They are released... Instead of giving them a longer sentence! So that other equally stupid and brainless people should not do this!!!
Seeing that he was starting to clench his fists in anger, Grant knew he needed to calm down, so he tried to pull himself together and continue.
- Excuse me for God's sake, Miss Gloria. It was a moment of weakness. It just boiled... Looking at the crimes and actions that are striking in their absurdity and cynicism, which I have already mentioned... Let's continue... Pablo Picasso. "Woman's Head" 1938 Canvas, oil. The estimated cost of the painting is more than $8 million. Where and when they were kidnapped: a yacht off the coast of Antibes (Côte d'Azur), March 23, 1999. Pablo Picasso is undoubtedly the most popular artist among burglars, Miss Gloria. The list of stolen works includes almost 600 of his works. Picasso was an incredibly prolific artist: he left almost 2 thousand paintings, 7 thousand drawings, 18 thousand engravings and more than a thousand sculptures. Of course, not all of them are familiar to the public. For example, the work “Head of a Woman” was acquired directly from the artist’s collection and was never exhibited in museums. It hung in the salon of a yacht that belonged to a multimillionaire from Saudi Arabia, a big fan of Picasso. The painting is said to depict Dora Maar, one of the artist's most famous women.
- Sorry, but I definitely won’t look for his paintings. I don’t understand his work... Let’s not get distracted... Let’s continue.
- Yes, sure. Claude Monet. "Beach at Pourville." 1882 Canvas, oil. The work is estimated at $7 million. Where and when abducted: National Museum of Poland (Poznan), September 19, 2000. The criminals who stole this painting had a good laugh at the museum staff: having cut the masterpiece out of the frame, they replaced it with an inferior reproduction. The substitution was noticed on September 19, but no one knows when exactly the theft occurred.
- What?! – The girl’s eyes became big with surprise. – There was a bad reproduction, as you say, hanging, museum workers, art experts, walked past it, and no one noticed the substitution?!
- Yes! Exactly! Apparently, good experts then walked past this reproduction... I think you understand that when I say “good”, I am being ironic... The next painting. Gustav Klimt. "Female portrait". Written around 1916. Canvas, oil. The painting is valued at $4 million. She was kidnapped in the Ricci Oddi Gallery, in Piacenza, on February 18, 1997. When this theft took place, the Ricci Oddi Gallery in the Italian city of Piacenza was closed for reconstruction. Therefore, the guards did not immediately realize that the Klimt painting had disappeared: they thought that it had simply been transported to storage. The theft was carried out in an incredibly cunning way: the criminal climbed onto the roof, opened the dormer window and... “fished out” the painting using a fishing line. Let us remind you that at the moment Gustav Klimt is the author of the most expensive work of art: billionaire Ronald Lauder bought his “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” in 2006 for $135 million.
Gloria shook her head thoughtfully.
- Yeah... The amounts are impressive... But good paintings, of course, should be expensive. These books by writers can be printed in unlimited editions. And artists leave their works to posterity in a single copy... There will be no other Mona Lisa, Sistine Madonna or “Cossacks Write a Letter to the Turkish Sultan” by Repin. All these masterpieces are unique and inimitable...
- I completely agree with you, Miss Gloria. I continue. Jan Vermeer. "Concert". 1664-1667. Canvas, oil. The painting is valued at more than $100 million. On March 18, 1990, the most notorious art theft in history occurred. Thirteen paintings were taken from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston by robbers who entered the building under the guise of police, including Rembrandt's "Storm on the Sea of Galilee", "At Tortoni's" by Édouard Manet and "The Concert" by Johannes Vermeer. The theft of Vermeer's painting is most mourned, for only 35 paintings by this artist are known. Anyone who returns the paintings in value and safety is promised a reward of $5 million. The cost of all works is estimated at 300 million.
- Oh, you! – Gloria exclaimed. – To be honest, I thought about catching some painting out of purely sporting interest. And for the love of painting. But it turns out that you can also make good money doing this!
- Well, I’ve been telling you about this for a long time, Miss Gloria! Next canvas. Vincent van Gogh. "Procession leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen." 1884-1885. Canvas, oil. The painting "Procession Exit from the Reformed Church in Nuenen" and the painting "View of the Sea at Scheveningen", stolen along with it, are estimated at $30 million. Where and when abducted: Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam), December 7, 2002. Unlike the heists I told you about, Miss Gloria, above, the theft of Vincent van Gogh's early works was done the old fashioned way. No one broke into the museum in broad daylight and threatened the terrified caretakers with weapons. The criminals entered the building at night. Early in the morning, museum staff discovered that two works were missing - the paintings “Exit of the Procession from the Reformed Church in Nuenen” and “View of the Sea in Scheveningen.” One of the museum's windows was broken, and a three-meter ladder was found against the wall. Soon the criminals were found, but the whereabouts of the paintings are still unknown.
- How is this so? – The girl was surprised. – How is it “unknown”?! If the thieves were caught, they simply had to say where they took the stolen goods!
Grant's face broke into an ironic smile.
- You are so naive, my child... Remember the Amber Room you know. Some Nazi criminals involved in her disappearance did not die and did not run away somewhere, but remained in prison until the end of their days by the verdict of the Nuremberg court. Those who were looking for the legendary room visited their cell more than once. But none of the Nazis remembered where the amber miracle went... Or did not want to remember... Taking their secret with them to the grave...
- Yes... Everything is so confusing... - The girl sighed heavily. – You were talking about Rafael. That his paintings were also stolen...
- Exactly right. This is what I was just about to say. The painting is called “Portrait of a Young Man.” This is a masterpiece by Raphael. The fate of this painting has been unknown since 1945. The cost, attention, Miss Gloria, is estimated at 100 million dollars! The Nazis committed many crimes against art: they considered the avant-garde “degenerate”, and they massively appropriated classical painting. This happened with Raphael’s “Portrait of a Young Man,” created in 1513-1514. There is an opinion that this is a self-portrait of the artist. In 1798, “Portrait of a Young Man” appeared in Poland, where it was brought from Italy by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski. Since then, the painting has been in the museum organized by his mother in Krakow. In 1939, after the outbreak of World War II, the portrait was hidden on the Czartoryski family estate in Sieniawa, but was soon discovered by the Gestapo. From Poland, the canvas was sent to the Hitler Museum in Linz, and in 1945 it was transported to Wawel Castle, which served as the residence of the Governor-General of occupied Poland, Hans Frank. After the liberation of Poland by Soviet troops, Frank, taking the collection, fled to Silesia, and from there to Bavaria. On May 4, 1945, he was arrested by the American military. Among the works found on him, there was no “Portrait of a Young Man”. During interrogations, Frank listed the places where the Nazi government hid confiscated paintings, but Raphael’s painting was never found in any of them.
Both the narrator and the listener looked long and intently at the portrait of a young man who looked at them with an open and kind gaze from the monitor screen.
- It would seem that this story could be put to rest. – Grant continued. - But... But in August 2012, the representative of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the restitution of cultural property, Wojciech Kowalski, stated that the masterpiece did not burn or was destroyed, but was “safe, in one of the bank safes.” It was not specified in which country this bank is located. It soon became clear that the news about the supposedly resurrected portrait was fabricated by one of the newspapers to increase reader interest. Since then, no new information has appeared about the legendary portrait of an equally legendary painter...
“This is what we need...” The girl said slowly, thoughtfully but firmly, spelling out literally every word syllable by syllable, looking at the screen. - I want to take care of this young man... Well... This portrait... I think you understand me...
- Of course! I'm sincerely glad! I also thought about this painting the most! That's why I put it at the end of my list! I am sincerely glad that you chose him!
- I'm glad too! I like Raphael, and this painting, and the fact that it did not disappear recently, and was not just simply stolen from a museum. Through the window... With a fishing rod... I love secrets. I find that this portrait is shrouded in an aura of mystery. And that this happened a long time ago. Traveling back to yesterday is not so tempting. But in the old days... Besides, after the Amber Room case, I already have some experience of communicating with the fascists. I speak German. I want to prove myself again in this field.
- Commendable, Miss Gloria! Commendable! It's respectful that you choose the difficult path! After all, it would be much easier to find that painting that was stolen through a window or pulled out with a fishing rod! The night the theft happened is known! On this specific date, you could go to a place known to us, take shelter off to the side, in a secret place, and watch who takes the stolen painting and where! Here, of course, all the addition... Much more complicated...
The narrator thought about it.
- The bad thing is that we don’t know exactly when the portrait was taken from Wawel Castle. If we had this information, you could go there that same day, or the day before. To trace his further path. But I rummaged long and patiently in the archives, and found something that might be useful to us. I calculated the approximate date, month and day when in 1945 the portrait from the Hitler Museum in Linz was transported to Wawel Castle!
- This is interesting! – The girl perked up. – If I simply show up at the castle, under any pretext, on any day, then I will fruitlessly walk through its many rooms, in unsuccessful attempts to find a rarity. It is clear that it is unlikely to lie in a visible place, but, most likely, will be hidden in some hiding place. Having arrived there in advance, knowing when the relic will be brought, I will try to observe who will come to the castle that day, and where they will carry what they bring!
- Great! – In turn, Grant perked up and was happy. – I like your business acumen, Miss Gloria! Speak, list, what you might, in your opinion, need in your visit to the past! I will help in any way I can!
- I'm telling you! – The girl, equally cheerful and excited, answered playfully. – First of all, print a high-resolution color portrait of this young man in your printing houses! Maximum quality! Moreover, in natural size! I definitely need to know the exact size of the canvas! Its height and width. I have an idea! Listen to me carefully...

Episode two
If shortly before Gloria Evans discovered her gift and the ability to move through time and space, someone had told her that she would have to play the role of, for example, a maid, a maid, or some other servant, she probably would have I wouldn't believe it. The girl was a proud and independent person, and she did not want to serve anyone. But now, for the good of the matter, to achieve her goal and get the desired result, she was ready to do anything. Including in order to be transported in time to 1945, he will appear at Wawel Castle, and, modestly batting his eyelashes, posing as an example of meekness and humility, looking for a place as a maid, servant, other servant, who is ready to obediently and resignedly perform any other job just to earn a piece of bread.
Thin and scary-looking Helga Wessel, with an unfriendly, always dissatisfied and even angry look, began to grumble displeasedly and inquire about the new girl’s letters of recommendation. But Josef Kühn, who was passing by them at that time and witnessed the conversation, noticed that they would not have minded another worker. After all, there is a lot of work to do in the house, and extra workers would obviously not hurt. The lady with the appearance of an old witch grumbled dissatisfiedly for some time, but then she had no choice but to heed the advice of a man whose word, apparently, carried much more weight in this house than hers.
Rejoicing that she had achieved her goal and gained access to the place where the masterpiece of the great artist she was interested in would soon be brought, Gloria, who introduced herself as Betty Mills, plunged headlong into her work. She understood that the success of her plan would be easier to realize if she gained trust, if she was considered one of their own in the castle. As a result, she will have more opportunities to move around the castle, its courtyard, corridors and rooms. And, therefore, what will happen here. Especially on the day when the portrait of Raphael is to be brought.
If now the new employee Betty Mills, aka Gloria Evans, participated in some invisible competition, or in a casting for the position of a maid, she would definitely and definitely win this selection. The girl was restless and hard-working by nature, so now she did not need to force herself to play the role of an exemplary and dutiful servant. She was it! She was passionate about her work, she quickly and efficiently carried out everything that was told to her, which caused tenderness in those who watched her from the side. First of all, this concerned Frau Wessel. At first, she literally did not leave the new girl’s side, meticulously looking at everything that the worker did, as if trying to notice something inappropriate in her actions, and then immediately rush at her with abuse. But the exemplary and dutiful worker did not give her such a reason, which is why, over time, the old witch left her alone and no longer followed on her heels.
Herr Kühn also spoke approvingly of the efforts of the new worker. which also made our heroine happy.
She saw Governor General Hans Frank less often. It seemed to her that he lived his own, separate life, and had little interest in those who surrounded him in the castle. It was as if they didn't exist for him.
Realizing that acquaintances and personal friendships with the rest of the castle's workers and servants could greatly help her in her future plans, Gloria tried to get closer to them. Her most friendly relationships began with her maid, a sweet and friendly girl with the melodious name Ingrid, and with an equally good-natured and open guy named Erich. She became friends with both of them so quickly that soon they were already communicating on a first-name basis, and behaved as if they were connected by a strong and long-standing, long-term friendship.
All this is good, but, by and large, she did not need all this trouble and work on the castle. She was waiting for the main thing: the day when, for her personally, everything would just begin.
And such a day has come! On this day, Gloria tried to be in the castle courtyard as much as possible, performing some work there. Or, even if she worked in the rooms, she tried to go out more often into the corridors, from which she had a view of the castle’s courtyard. She really didn’t want to miss the moment when the painting was delivered or delivered. Of course, it will be easier if she hears the sound of a car engine, gets out, and sees the painting being taken out of her. But, even if someone comes on foot and brings it in his hands, judging by the size of what will be in his hands, even if it is wrapped in paper or cloth, the girl will understand that this is a portrait, and not something other. She knew the dimensions of the canvas, and understood perfectly well how it would look in the hands of the person who would deliver the masterpiece to the castle.
Time passed, but no one appeared. This began to worry our heroine. She understood that this was not the collapse of her hopes. That the painting could be delivered tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, or some other day. But still the worm of doubt gnawed at her even more and more. What if something went wrong in Oliver Grant's investigations and calculations? What if the painting has already been taken away and is not in the castle now? Why then is she wasting her precious time here, doing menial work that she doesn’t need at all, pleasing this old witch, Josef Kühn and everyone else?!
Our heroine breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a passenger car drive into the castle courtyard, and Governor General Hans Frank and Joseph Kühn rushed towards it. If the two most important people came out to meet the guests, it means that they were unusual guests. Or what they brought was unusual.
Gloria watched with bated breath from afar as to what happened next. An officer got out of the car and began talking about something with Frank and Kühn. At this time, two German soldiers took out a package that vaguely resembled Gloria’s flat-screen plasma TV, packed in cardboard, and froze in anticipation. They were awaiting orders as to where to carry the cargo.
The heroine of our story immediately realized that there, inside, was nothing more than the picture she was expecting!
Realizing that she was getting more and more worried, in order to hide her excitement from possible prying eyes, she tried to pretend that she was busy with urgent matters, and her attention was absorbed only by them! She does her job without being distracted by anything or anyone! But in fact, out of the corner of her eye, with peripheral vision, she was watching what would happen next. And, most importantly, where will these people go? Where will they take the masterpiece!
When this entire cavalcade, with the packaging of the painting in their hands, and with the Governor-General at their head, headed to the castle, Gloria immediately followed them and tried to follow where they were going. She was very afraid of losing sight of them, very much. She understood that if they now began to descend into the dungeons of the castle and disappear there in their labyrinths, then she would actually lose from her hands the tip of the thread, which she was already holding in her hands. She understood that she would not be able to rush after them into the dungeon. It would be too dangerous. If she is noticed, it will immediately arouse suspicion. What on earth is she doing in the deep labyrinths of the castle? And here she could pretend that she was busy with some kind of work, and this could not arouse any suspicion in anyone. There was no reason for this. The workers had a lot to do throughout the castle, and no one would find out from everyone what he was doing at a specific time, in a specific place.
When the heroine of our story saw that the entire group of people she was interested in had entered the office of the Governor-General, she breathed a sigh of relief! Our hard-working maid had access to this office; she regularly cleaned it, as in many other rooms of the castle, so she could enter Hans Frank’s office in the coming days. Now it remains to be sure of the main thing: will the painting remain in this office, or will it be carried further? For example, in the same basements mentioned above. This was the last thing Gloria wanted. She had already been eager to find Raphael’s masterpiece. Now, having seen it in reality, even if it was in a package, a peculiar hunting and sporting passion took possession of her even more! She really wanted to get to the masterpiece and save it! This became an obsession for the girl. If now the packaging was taken out of the office again and carried deep into the dungeons, it would almost be the collapse of all her hopes. She understood that finding a portrait there, in the numerous basements of the castle, would be almost impossible.
Time passed... No one left the office. Gloria, of course, could not just stand there and stare at the door that interested her. This would arouse suspicion in anyone who might look at her from the outside. Therefore, our cunning woman pretended to sweep the floor, clean, wipe the dust in the corridor, and do a lot of other things related to cleaning. At the same time, she tried so hard that anyone who looked at her and saw the highest degree of diligence and diligence on her face and in her movements would understand that the hard worker was busy only with cleaning and nothing else! They would have no idea that work is the last thing our heroine thinks about. All her attention was occupied by the contemplation of the door leading to the office of the Governor General. Of course, she didn't work near the door. There was no need for this. It was possible to be far, very far away, but at the same time keep the entrance to the office in sight, and this was quite enough for our tracker in a skirt.
When, over time, the cavalcade of gentlemen familiar to Gloria left the office, already without a load, and followed again to the car, our heroine breathed a sigh of incredible relief! From that moment on, she had one, but very important, information! The portrait of Raphael, which in 2023 will be valued at one hundred million dollars, was now in the office of the Governor General of occupied Poland, Hans Frank!!!

Episode three
Finally, after a long search, having found the house and the door, above which there was a sign, grayed with time, with the inscription “Horst Bismarck Art Workshop”, Gloria Evans plucked up the courage and went inside. The bell ringing above the door announced her arrival. An elderly man who came out to meet him looked curiously at the newly arrived pretty lady.
- Good afternoon, Fraulein! - His voice sounded friendly. - How can I serve you?
- My name is Betty Mills. I'm looking for the artist Horst Bismarck. I need exactly him! Personally!
- I am listening to you.
- Great! I am sincerely glad to meet you, Herr Bismarck. I can pay you well... Pay me very generously if you quickly, and most importantly, write a good copy of this portrait.
With these words, the guest took out a sheet of paper folded several times, unfolded it, and laid it out on the table in front of the master. He ran his hand over the glossy side of the highest quality coated paper, on which, in even more stunningly beautiful quality, was an image of a portrait of a young man.
The artist raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Gloria expected this reaction. She understood that in those days when no one knew anything except black and white images in photographs and newspapers, this colorful poster, which even by modern standards of printing aroused admiration, would generate the same reaction in the soul of the master.
He looked at the poster lying in front of him for a long time and was dumbfounded, and it was not clear what he admired more, the work of the great Raphael’s brush, or the work of the printers. Then he took the poster in his hands, brought it closer to the manholes, and began to peer more closely at the details of the picture.
- Lovely... Amazing... Incredible...
The master’s lips barely moved, but what he said was heard clearly. He was entirely focused on the portrait, and it seemed that nothing else interested him in this world at this time.
Gloria waited patiently. She understood that a lot was being decided now. Whether this person agreed or not depended on how she would act in the future. She can do without a reproduction of the painting. But in the plan conceived by our heroine, a copy of the portrait would make it much easier for the girl to do what she had in mind.
Frankly, she initially planned to make a copy right away, even before her trip to the past. And he will go there with the painting. She really liked the fact that she had the opportunity to be transported back to the old days not naked, which would be logical, as, for example, happened with the hero of the famous film “Terminator”, but in the clothes that she was wearing, and with those objects, which were in the pockets of these clothes. But she did not dare to take the picture with her.
But she put something else in her pockets. A considerable amount of old money that she would need in her adventure, at a time when the calendar was 1945. Thanks to the amounts that media tycoon Oliver Grant began transferring to her bank card, she could now afford something she had never dreamed of before! It seemed to her that she could afford everything! Including buying a large number of banknotes of the 1945 model, and recovering with them in the year mentioned above.
Now she took out a considerable amount of banknotes, placed them on the edge of the table, and said in a calm but firm voice:
- This is a deposit. You will receive the rest as soon as I come for the finished work. You just need to name the total amount and the date when I can come for a reproduction of this painting. Its dimensions should be exactly the same as they are here. In this photo. These are the actual dimensions of the portrait.
Now the guest just has to wait to see what the master will answer.
The risk, of course, was enormous. It seemed to Gloria that this man could at any moment call the Gestapo or the SS, and she would immediately be taken to the place where she least wanted to be. But she also understood that this artist, albeit thrice talented, but modest and far from politics, may not know anything, either about this portrait itself, much less about the fact that he was kidnapped by the Nazis and is now in prison. their hands. After all, Gloria Evans didn’t just come to Horst Bismarck at random. Grant spent a lot of time rummaging through the archives of that time. And he determined that the best copy of the portrait could be made by an artist living relatively close to Wawel Castle named Horst Bismarck. Grant chose him not only because he was an excellent craftsman and could cope with the task assigned to him. But also thanks to his views on politics. He was not interested in her, began to stay away from political games, did not sympathize with the Nazis, and that was the main thing!
Horst lowered his eyes, looked at the money lying on the edge of the tabletop, but, without reacting in any way, again fixed his gaze on the poster.
- Incredible... Unreal... Kike lines... What strokes... What a master's hand...
Gloria saw that the portrait fascinated Bismarck. She realized that he would want to come into contact with this miracle, and he would certainly agree to make a copy...

Episode four
- Hello, Mr. Bradley! Can I come to you?
Jack's eyes widened in surprise.
- Gloria?! Hello! Glad to see you! Come on in! Sit down! Where have you gone? Why do only business attract you to me?! I would be glad to meet you outside my office. Take a walk somewhere... or have dinner...
- Thank you for the invitation... I’ll have dinner with you with pleasure... But now, I must admit, business brought me to you...
The guest's preoccupied appearance alerted the owner of the office.
- What? Do you need a shocker again? Or a gun? Or, why bother, an artillery or anti-aircraft installation?
- You're kidding, but I really need help. Really needed!
- I'll help! I will definitely help! But with one condition! We agreed that we would switch to “you”. Why, when you came to me, did you immediately address yourself as “you”? Besides, when you were with me last time and returned the stun gun to me, we made an appointment. But you never showed up! Why?! You yourself said that you hung my photo in your room. Why didn’t you think that I could fall in love with you too?! It's impossible not to fall in love with you! You are so beautiful and charming that I really have only been thinking about you lately! So there is no need to torment me! I will help you only after we have established friendship.
- Let's stop! We'll definitely tie it up! – The girl chattered quickly, thinking about something of her own, and not paying attention to what the guy was saying. - But after. After! In the meantime, I need a master key! Or several! Or something else that could be used to win back castles. This is according to your detective line! Give me these master keys, please! And teach them how to use them. Please…
And the cunning girl made such a cute face, which little girls usually make when they ask their mother for candy. Stunned, Jack made his eyes wide in surprise.
- You scare me... Either you need a pistol, then a stun gun... Now you need a master key... Something is unclean here...
- There is nothing unclean about this! - The girl pouted her lips offendedly. – I need all this for good deeds! With their help I perform good deeds!
- With the power of a pistol and a master key?! Good deeds?! – The irony in the guy’s voice was undisguised. – I understand that I won’t get the truth from you... But all this is really alarming and very confusing...
- I can’t tell you the truth! This is not said! Take my word for it! Look at me! How can I lie?! How could I deceive you?!
- I look... I see... I see that you are very, very beautiful! That's why I want to be friends with you. That’s why I invite you to have dinner together.
- We will not only have dinner, but I will also kiss you later! Honestly! Just help me with the master key. Now! Urgently! Jack laughed.
- So, like a kiss, then later... And like a master key, then urgently...
- OK! I can kiss you now... Just give me the master key!
Jack's laughter became so frank that the heated girl, realizing that in the heat of excitement she had blurted out something, albeit not reprehensible, but really funny and touching, allowed herself to laugh.
- Jack... Darling... You see, I have already switched terms with you... As you asked... Help me out... The matter is really important and urgent... Please... Now I will fulfill my promise. There is nothing left for you to do but fulfill your goal!
With these words, she approached the guy and kissed him...
The kiss, although offensively short and chaste, was so pleasant that Bradley understood: if she had now asked him not only for a set of master keys, but also for his house as a gift, he probably would have done it...

Episode five
Finally, Gloria waited for the moment when she was able to get into the office of the Governor General for the second time. Her first visit here, after the painting was delivered there, both delighted and saddened our tracker. She made me happy, because she knew that the relic was definitely here, in this one, specific, and, most importantly, place accessible to her. And she was upset because during her first visit to the office, she never saw the painting there. Frankly, in her wildest dreams she imagined that the canvas would hang on the wall and please the eye of the owner of the office. In this situation, replacing the original with a reproduction would probably be even easier.
Alas, she did not find either a painting on the wall or a package with a canvas anywhere in the office itself... This greatly upset our heroine! She was doing what she had actually come here for, cleaning the room, but at the same time she continued to carefully examine everything around her and analyze what she saw.
This is where we can move on to the second point, to which the expected word “delighted” is more applicable. What made her happy was that she saw here many large and small cabinets where it would be possible to hide the brought painting. There was even a secret door in the office, covered with a curtain, in front of which stood a statue, a door leading to an unknown destination. Most likely, behind it was hidden some small, very tiny room, where the Governor General could easily have hidden the package with the painting.
It was then that our heroine discovered something that greatly confused her... All the doors to the closets, and even more so to this secret door, were locked with internal locks. However, this should not have surprised her. This office was opened so that cleaning could be done. And the safes in the office, desk drawers, cabinets, of course, had to be locked. It was quite logical.
It was then that our heroine had the idea to return for a short time back to the future, ask detective Jack Bradley for master keys, and with their help try to open the locks. The rarity seeker really wanted to look behind the doors of these cabinets and secret rooms, and find what was now attracting her more than anything else.
Having achieved her goal, Gloria, returning back to the past, to 1945, waiting for the next cleaning of the office, immediately took out the bundle of master keys hidden on her and began to open the locks.
At first she didn't succeed. Although Bradley explained to her in detail how to do this, and she even rehearsed with him for a long time on the locks of safes, doors and cabinets located in the building of the detective agency where Jack worked, still now when she was worried, and her hands were shaking with fear , at first everything worked out for her with great difficulty. But then she calmed down, got used to it, and things worked out.
While she was happy about this, she was saddened by something else: what she so wanted to see could not yet be found.
After checking several closets and not finding what she was looking for, she decided to check the secret door that attracted our adventurer the most. She saw this entrance to the little room, hidden from prying eyes, as painfully tempting and mysterious, which, according to the logic of the location of the rooms in the castle, should not have been here.
Although this door was covered with a curtain made of thick fabric, and in front of it stood a human-sized plaster statue, Gloria, pushing back the curtain, tried to open the door lock with a master key, squeezing between the door and the statue without moving it. The girl understood that the owner of the office had long been accustomed to how and where everything was located, where it stood, and in what position. If she now moves the statue, and then, moving it back into place, leaves it in a different position than it was in before, an attentive person may notice the changes. Our cautious and prudent heroine did not want to allow this. Therefore, she tried to squeeze sideways, between the door and the statue, without disturbing anything.
When her efforts were crowned with success, her skills with a master key gave results, and the lock opened, the girl felt an extraordinary excitement overcome her. Opening the door, she realized that now she could see what she so wanted to see...
The room is really very tiny. It looked more like not even a utility room, but some kind of large secret closet where one could hide mops, buckets, brooms and other household tools. But instead of them there was the packaging that two German soldiers had once taken out of the car!
Gloria's heart beat even faster! She understood that the job was almost done, that the rarity had been found, that she needed to quickly close this door before anyone came in and caught her doing this. But... Although she already understood that the portrait was almost certainly inside this flat box, reminiscent, as we have already said, of the packaging of a flat-panel TV with a plasma screen, she still really wanted to verify this personally, with her own eyes.
She realized that the box might be tightly packed, which would make her task extraordinarily difficult. But, looking closely at the box in the dimness of the room, she noticed, to her incredible joy, that the top part of the package was open! Apparently, the owner of the office also could not resist the temptation to look at the portrait. He opened the package from the top, made sure that there was what he expected inside, and, satisfied with this, hid the box in a secret room without bothering to pack it again. What for? He was probably sure that no one would discover the painting in this hidden place. And then he can come here again, open the cache, and again admire the masterpiece.
Lifting the top of the package, she immediately saw the top of the canvas! One single, even cursory, glance was enough to understand that there was a portrait in the box! The canvas itself is without a frame! A familiar wooden frame on which a canvas is stretched, with a portrait depicted on it!
Now no force in the world could stop our heroine from lifting the canvas and not getting stuck on it!
Seeing the painfully familiar and so desirable face of the young man, the girl almost cried out with joy. Euphoria overwhelmed her! But she realized that she had only done half the job. Yes, she found a masterpiece! Which is already good! But she also understood that the main thing, and the most difficult thing, was ahead!
She quickly put the canvas back, covered the box packaging on top, and tried to leave everything as it was before.
Having locked the door again, covered it with a curtain, straightened it, looked around, making sure that everything was as it was, she, rejoicing in her soul, with her usual serene appearance, continued cleaning.

Episode six
- Thank you sincerely, Herr Bismarck! You are a real wizard! You conveyed every stroke, every line so accurately that it can’t help but cause delight! You are a great master! You are an artist, with a capital letter! Thank you! Here, take it.
Gloria stood admiring the painting with the greatest degree of admiration, then took out a stack of banknotes prepared in advance from her purse, and placed them on the table in front of the artist standing next to her. And she again fell in love with the portrait.
- What a beauty... What a beauty...
But, realizing that time was passing, and her absence might arouse suspicion in the castle, the girl laid out the thin blanket she had brought with her on the table, placed the canvas on top of it, wrapped it in the blanket, and headed for the exit.
- Once again, sincere thanks to you, oh great master, for your work! Great job! Thank you!
Gloria bowed slightly and stepped through the door.
All the way, while she walked to the castle, her soul sang from an excess of emotions.
But, as she approached her new home, the euphoria in her soul gave way to anxiety and foreboding. The above-mentioned phrase that Gloria understood that the main difficulties awaited her ahead was now being brought to life. Previously, she moved relatively freely around the castle, felt quite free, walked around the castle courtyard, along its corridors and rooms fearlessly. Now she understood that walking through the house with such a dangerous load in her hands, the earth, as they say, would burn under her feet. Gloria understood that if one of the owners asked what you were talking about there, she would not know what to answer. And even more so, if he asks to see this suspicious something wrapped in a blanket, then this will definitely be a disaster for Gloria!
Therefore, she was now walking through the courtyard and corridors of the castle, trying to quickly get to her room, as they say, without breathing, holding her breath. How she wished that none of those whom she did not want to catch the eye of would now come across her path. God! How she wished for this!
But it was precisely at that moment when the door of the room in which Gloria lived was already close, almost nearby, that the girl saw the one whom she probably least wanted to see! The always grumbling and evil witch Helga Wessel!
The girl’s heart sank... She had already tried to be less visible to this fiend of hell, since she always, under any pretext, tried to find fault with the docile girl who did not dare to object, to grumble at her, make a remark, reproach her. Paralyzed by fear, Gloria now had almost no doubt that in this case, the old witch would not remain silent, would not pass by, but would certainly catch her subordinate.
And so it happened...
- What are you talking about, my dear?! – Helga’s voice sounded extremely suspicious.
- Nothing special. – Gloria tried with all her might to give her voice an air of carelessness and fun. – I just had my personal, free time. So I went shopping.
And hoping that such an answer would satisfy the old woman, the girl followed past her, trying to quickly sneak through the door that would save her.
- Show me, Fräulein, what you are talking about there!
The witch's voice was filled with suspicion. Gloria’s heart sank... She understood that now, at this moment, all her plans, no matter how noble, ingenious and thoughtful they were, could collapse. Collapse like a house of cards. Maybe in an instant, not only will the sweet mirage that depicts in the girl’s imagination the moment she saves a masterpiece dissipate, but her very life may now be in mortal danger. She understood who she was dealing with. With Nazis, occupiers and invaders. With people whose hands are wet with the blood of millions of people! For such insolence, which the quiet and submissive servant allowed herself, they, of course, will definitely punish her in the most severe way.
It was necessary to come up with something in order to somehow get out of this deadlock. She really was hopeless.
Gloria couldn’t think of anything better than, continuing to walk, without stopping, to reply as she walked:
- Sorry, Frau Wessel, but I want to go to the toilet so badly that I’m literally running to relieve myself faster...
And with these words she reproached her step even more.
But behind me I heard a loud and menacing voice:
- Wait!
But the girl could no longer stop.
She quickly slipped into the room, hastily closed the door from the inside, but immediately heard a loud knock and an angry cry:
- Open it! Open now! Immediately!
On the one hand, this scream terribly frightened the girl, but, on the other hand, she already knew what to do. She quickly put her burden on the table, hurriedly unrolled the blanket, grabbed the canvas, rushed to the bed, and shoved it further under the bed. At the same time, with a second movement, she grabbed the new mirror lying there, under the bed, which was still in the package, hurriedly stood up, literally in two leaps overcame the plant between the bed and the table, put the mirror on the bedspread, and with quick movements wrapped it in the blanket.
Then she just as hastily opened the door and looked at the named guest with a plaintive, pleading, innocent look.
- Well, what do you want?! For me to pee right here?
At the same time, the maid made pained grimaces on her face and literally jumped up and down with impatience, thereby demonstrating how much she wanted to retire when needed.
The evil witch opened the coverlet with sharp movements of her hands. Her face showed hatred, her eyes flashed lightning. Having made sure that there was an ordinary mirror there, she turned around and angrily squeaked her zooms and walked away.
When the old woman left and Gloria hastily closed the door behind her, the girl, who had suffered incredible stress, sat down and looked ahead for a long time and frantically...
She wasn't just recovering from shock. She thought about how important it is in such matters to provide for any, even the most unlikely, detail! She meant the mirror. It didn’t just appear under Gloria’s bed. She bought it in advance. True, even in her wildest dreams she could not imagine that she would use it precisely for such a purpose, in such an unusual situation. She bought it for a completely different purpose. She was afraid that the artist would not cope with the task and would not fulfill the order. And then a crazy idea came into the head of our desperate adventurer. Take Raphael's portrait out of the box, and instead put something else in, suitable in size. And by weight. So that the person who comes to pick up the cargo does not notice that the box is suspiciously light. That is, empty. We needed some kind of cargo that was suitable in weight and size. Gloria couldn’t think of anything better than to buy a mirror, about the same dimensions as the canvas. She searched for such a mirror for a long time, went shopping a lot, but finally achieved her goal!
And now that foresight of hers has now incredibly helped Gloria! She actually saved the girl! Thanks to this simple, seemingly ordinary mirror, as well as her quick wits, resourcefulness and ingenuity, which she showed a minute ago, our heroine got out of a situation that at first seemed to her clearly a dead end and completely hopeless...

Episode seven
Gloria remembered how nervous she was the first time she toured the Governor General's office. Now that excitement made her smile ironically. What was there to worry about then? She was cleaning the office. The moment when she looked into the secret room took her a minimum of time. And then, if anyone had entered the office, he would have seen an exemplary and efficient maid who was quietly, peacefully and calmly cleaning the room.
But now she really needed to do something complex and dangerous, which would be much more difficult to implement than what she had done before. It was necessary to bring a copy of the portrait into the office, then replace it with the original, and then take the original itself from the office to your room. That in itself was difficult. But to this there was also the risk that either Governor-General Hans Frank, or Joseph Kühn, or Helga Wessel could see her with her burden. These were exactly the three people that Gloria definitely wouldn’t want to catch the eye of at that moment!
If the girl got away with that incident with the witch, now her tricks may not work. Then Gloria was also saved by the fact that Frau Wessal did not witness how German soldiers carried the package with the painting into the office. Therefore, when she saw a maid with luggage wrapped in a blanket, she could hardly imagine that she was carrying something similar to a painting. Now Helga will look with different eyes at the bundle that the maid will carry, and, even more so, Frank and Kühn for sure! Gloria needed to do more than just play it safe. It was necessary at all costs to avoid catching their attention! It was necessary to choose the right moment!
This is exactly what she considered the case when all this trio, along with some guests, sat comfortably in the dining room, began to have dinner, and at the same time carry on a leisurely conversation. Seeing that Ingrid was serving them, and realizing that now this trio would be busy only with lunch and nothing more, our desperate heroine decided that there might not be a more convenient opportunity for her to realize her plan now! Deciding not to waste such a favorable moment, and to use it to the fullest, Gloria immediately rushed to her room, wrapped the reproduction of the painting in a blanket, did not forget to take a bunch of master keys with her, and immediately headed to the office of the Governor General.
Her hands trembled with excitement. It would seem that no one is bothering her. But she got so excited that for a long time she could not get the master key into the hole in the lock of the secret door. Finally, she opened both the lock and the door, took the original portrait out of the package, and placed it on the floor. Right there, in the little room. She returned to the office, unrolled the blanket on the floor, took a copy from it, took it into the little room, and carefully put it in the box. Having done everything as it was in the beginning.
Having made sure that the fake canvas was practically no different from the original, Gloria closed the lid of the box as it had been until that hour. Then the girl picked up the original from the floor, looked around again to see if everything in this little room was in place, if nothing was suspicious, and, again making sure that everything was fine, she took out the original, wrapped it in a blanket, and left it lying on the floor.
Then she quickly returned to the door of the secret room, locked the lock, pulled the handle, and made sure that the door was locked. She straightened the curtain, stepped aside, looked at the curtain again, and, once again making sure that nothing should arouse suspicion from the owner of the office, hurried to the masterpiece lying on the floor. She picked him up in her arms and hurriedly headed out of the office.
There was very little left to do: take the priceless masterpiece to your room and hide it there.
But it was at this time that, to her indescribable horror, she heard approaching voices... Among which she immediately recognized the imperious and commanding voice of the Governor-General himself...
It was completely clear that this group of people was walking towards the office and would now enter it...
At that moment, it seemed to the girl, who had fallen into despair, that there had never been a more hopeless and deadly situation for her in her life...

Episode eight
My first thought was one thing: hide! But the voices were so close that she immediately realized: she simply did not have time for this. But she still had time to poke the portrait wrapped in a blanket somewhere. If this place is very close. Almost at arm's length. Taking a quick look around, she identified the closet that stood next to the front door as such a place. The girl couldn’t think of anything better than to put her luggage behind this closet. Fortunately, the gap between him and the wall was sufficient to push the priceless package through.
To her horror, the girl noticed that the canvas rested against something, and she could not push it further. Its edge was peeking out from behind the closet! He was visible!
But she no longer had time to change anything. Leaving everything as it was, she immediately, literally in two leaps, jumped away from the door, hastily pulled out a brush from her apron, and began to slowly and leisurely brush off the dust with it from the books standing on the bookshelf.
At that moment, the door swung open with a noise, and its owner entered the office with a confident, quick and wide step. An officer and a soldier followed on his heels.
All the way the Governor-General spoke non-stop:
- You should have warned me in advance about your exact time of arrival. And now I am very busy with important guests, to whom I must definitely give my attention...
Only now, having almost reached the middle of the office, Frank noticed the presence of a stranger in the room. Seeing the maid in his peripheral vision, he stopped abruptly and looked at her menacingly. Noticing that she was diligently and thoroughly cleaning his office, he softened, but still said in a rather stern voice:
- Leave us! Immediately!
- I obey! – The maid said hastily, and then hurried away.
Although her face and demeanor radiated peace and tranquility, her heart was beating faster. It seemed to her that right now, at this very minute, she would immediately be exposed, and right here, within these walls, something irreparable would happen.
Leaving the office and rushing away, she sighed with relief. But she also understood that it was very, very early for her to rejoice. At any moment, what she feared most could happen. Frank didn't notice anything just now. Because his back was to the painting peeking out from behind the closet. But, leaving the room, he can notice her. And then... The girl shuddered with horror again, imagining what this very “and then” would mean...
However, when leaving the office, he may not notice the package sticking out from behind the closet. He can be distracted by conversations with his fellow travelers. But while the danger of being exposed remained, the girl had no right to calm down. A sense of self-preservation told her that she needed to quickly run away from this terrible place, and from these people who could now rush to search for her. But Gloria also understood that the original masterpiece, for the sake of which she went on this journey into the past, was almost in her hands! She was so close to completing her plan that she really, really didn’t want to give up everything now, at the most inopportune moment for this! Now she wanted more than anything to wait for these people to leave, come back, pick up the painting, and take it to a safe place!
It is clear that she will not stand like a statue in one place, next to the office doors! That would be the height of stupidity. But she simply had to step back and, looking out from a secluded place, wait for this company to come back out! She heard Frank say that important guests were waiting for him in the dining room. She understood that the Governor General had only left for a short time to convey something to an officer and a soldier, perhaps some urgent important papers, and then head back to the guests. Therefore, he will not stay in his office for a long time. You just need to be patient and wait!
She moved away and pretended to be doing something. But this dramatization of the work was performed for those who might happen to see it. Someone outsider. At the same time, she did everything so as not to fall into the field of view of those who would sooner or later leave the office. As long as there was a possibility of being exposed, precautions remained necessary.
Minutes of agonizing waiting dragged on...
Gloria understood with her mind that very little time had passed, but in her heart and soul she still could not calm down. She was expecting something unusual. And it happened...
When she saw all three come out of the office, and at the same time the soldier, who was occasionally helped by an officer, was carrying in his hands a painfully familiar box, reminiscent of a package with a flat-screen TV, the girl almost screamed from an overabundance of emotions! She immediately realized what had happened! And she immediately noted how on time, literally at the last moment, in the last minutes, she managed to do the main thing: exchange the original for a copy!!!
It was simply incredible! So be on time! So on time! Not knowing when they will come for the painting and take it away! She just got it right with time! What a coincidence!!!
Judging by how carefree and carefree the Governor General walked next to his guests, escorting them to the car, Gloria realized that he did not pay attention to the package sticking out from behind the closet. Didn't notice him! Hooray! The girl rejoiced in her heart! She still had to go back, pick up the original and take it to her room, but she already understood: the main thing was done! The highest degree of danger has passed! Now Hans Frank will see off some guests, hurry to others, and then nothing and no one will stop our heroine from returning back and picking up the relic.

Episode nine
Gloria's acquaintance here, at Wawel Castle, with a sweet, kind, calm servant, whose name was Erich, reminded her of her friendship on the Titanic with Catherine Douglas. They found a common language with Erich, just like before with Katherine, and quickly became friends. Just like Gloria’s fellow passenger on the Titanic, he loved to talk about himself, dream, and make plans for the future. What will his life be like after the war? Everyone understood that Germany would inevitably be defeated, that the war would soon end, and everyone, including Erich, made plans for their future. Many were frightened by the unknown. Everyone understood that Germany would no longer be the country it was before the war. However, this also applied to many other European countries. Not everyone could immediately imagine themselves in a new world for them, find their place in it, be useful to others, and find ways to earn a living.
So Erich was thinking about what he should do in the future and asked his new girlfriend for advice about this. She tried to respond to him with the same kindness and mutual affection, advice, while trying not to say too much. She was afraid to spill the beans. It is inadvertent to say about what will happen in the future.
Sometimes they just talked, fooled around, laughed. And sometimes they sat until late after work, admiring the moon, as lovers do. Such late-night get-togethers could be called dates. But still they were not. The guy did not allow himself too much, and she did not show activity and did not give him a hint to start courting her. On the one hand, she wanted flirtation, courage, romance. Sometimes it’s what all girls her age want. Intimacy... Without which even a thrice wonderful life cannot be called such if it does not contain what was said at the beginning of this sentence. But during her travels into the past she was afraid of intimacy with men. After all, in this case, everything could end the way it usually ends in such cases... But she categorically did not want to go back to her time, transferring from the past to the present something that could remain inside her at that hour! Therefore, she was not very upset that romantic gatherings under the moon with a good guy Erich did not have their logical continuation. She planned to use him in her completely different plans. And one day such an opportunity came!
One day she saw him heading towards the entrance leading to the castle cellars, with buckets containing cement. She argued about what was in the bucket and where it was going. The guy replied that he was carrying cement to the basement, where he was tasked with laying a new wall.
- Oh, how interesting! – The intrigued girl exclaimed excitedly. – Can I take a look too? Can I go with you?
“You can, of course...” he answered embarrassedly. “But how can what a mason has to do be of interest to girls?”
Gloria laughed heartily.
- And how! My parents have a private house! Private! Not an apartment, but a house! More than once I helped my father mix mortar, lay bricks, and mix concrete to fill the paths in the yard... I can do everything! Let's go to! I will help you!
The embarrassed guy could not resist such pressure, charm and charm. He, of course, allowed the girl to follow her. Although she chirped incessantly all the way, she still did not stop turning her head from side to side throughout the entire journey, memorizing the path. She already understood that she could get the most out of this visit to the dungeon, so she tried not to waste time.
Finally they came. In the basement, illuminated by a lantern, she saw buckets of water and sand standing on the floor, and shovels standing against the wall.
Erich poured one bucket of cement into a trough located in the middle of the room and placed it three times on the floor. Then he took and poured three buckets of sand into this trough. Started stirring it.
Seeing this, Gloria took a second shovel and began to help him.
- No need! Me myself! – The guy screamed. - This is a man's job!
But the girl interrupted him.
- I do it no worse than you, Erich! Trust me! Besides, I want to help you! You're a nice guy. I want to somehow thank you for brightening up my gray everyday life in this gloomy castle.
She took a bucket of water, poured it into the trough, and began stirring the solution. Now Gloria’s friend clearly understood that she knew how to stir the solution and what needed to be done for this.
When the mixture was ready, Erich took a bucket splashed with mortar, threw the finished mortar into it, and carried it to the brickwork. Then he took the trowel lying there, scooped up a small portion of the mixture, and carefully spread it over the surface of the new wall. After which he began to take and slowly, one by one, lay the bricks, more reminiscent of small stone blocks, in a row, while adding mortar between them. For the bunch.
Gloria silently watched all this, waiting until he completed the operation. But, as soon as the guy was about to scoop up the second portion of the solution from the bucket, she immediately literally took the trowel away from him by force, saying:
- While I’m laying the masonry, you go and bring the second trowel. Or a trowel. I don't know what you call it. Bring it for yourself. And I will work on this. Let's build the wall together. Well! Go! What are you looking at?
- You... You, Betty, are extraordinary... You... You are so...
“I know,” the girl smiled. - Well, go! Go!
When the guy left, the girl immediately got up and began to quickly walk around the dungeon and examine it. Many stones were piled against one of the walls. So many. It is clear that Erich had a lot of work to do. This large pile of bricks really attracted the attention of our heroine.
Seeing this and purring with satisfaction, Gloria immediately began to examine the masonry. A quick glance was enough to understand why a new wall was being laid here. All three other walls in this dungeon were in excellent condition. The fourth, apparently, was made of bricks of a different type. More similar to the so-called limestone. Over time, it began to crumble and now this wall was a sad sight. In some places, several stones fell out at once, and certain niches and voids seemed to form in the wall. So it was decided to lay a new one right next to the old wall. And stop the destruction of the old wall, and strengthen it, so to speak, prop it up, with the help of a new one.
Now, looking at the gaping voids in the old wall, Gloria, with growing joy in her soul, realized how she was using the opportunity presented to her for her own purposes!
Late in the evening, choosing a moment when the castle courtyard was empty, under the cover of darkness, she entered a dungeon familiar to her, inserted a canvas wrapped and packed in waterproof material into the gap between the brick and the wall, and lined the edges with stones. So that even Erich wouldn’t notice anything. And went off to sleep.
The next morning, she got up early, hurried to the basement, and quickly mixed a fresh portion of the solution. Taking out a carefully packed rarity from her simple hiding place, she leaned it against one of the small recesses formed in the old wall, and began to quickly, very quickly, lay rows of bricks opposite this place. She understood that she had to do quite a lot so that Erich, when he came to work, saw only a freshly laid out large section of the new wall, which would completely cover what was now hidden behind it.
She was in a hurry. She kicked herself for not doing this last night. If a guy comes now and sees something he shouldn’t see, it will be very bad. Very! Yes, he is not Helga Wessel, not Joseph Kühn or Hans Frank. But she perfectly understood the wisdom of the saying that a secret known to two is no longer a secret. She really wanted to go back, from the past to the present, firmly believing that no one in the world, not a single person, except herself, knew about her secret.
She didn't want the Cursed Diamond incident to happen again. She understood that she shouldn’t take anything with her into the present! By doing this, she breaks the logical chain! It is impossible for some thing, disappearing in the past and appearing in the future, to not exist in nature all these years!
And what she is doing now, it seemed to her, is all very logical and does not violate the laws of nature and time. The masterpiece, hidden now, in 1845, and found later, in 2024, will lie in its place, quietly and calmly, and will not influence the course of history! The notorious “Butterfly Effect” should not affect him. It seemed to Gloria that she came up with everything just brilliantly!
When Erich finally entered the basement, he froze in amazement.
- What are you doing here?! – He exclaimed in surprise.
- Here... I came early... To give you a surprise... I told you that I want to help you. Look! How much masonry I have already done! Praise me! Tell me I'm smart!
- You, of course, are smart... But... But as soon as you did this, you are so fragile, tender... This is a man’s job. I would do everything myself...
- Finally! For once you dared to say that I am fragile and tender... Fathers! Jesus Christ!!! Finally, you decided to give me at least some compliment! Since it’s clear that you’ll never tell me that you like me, I’ll do it myself. I'll tell you that I like you too. Can I kiss you?
And she handed over something that caused complete shock in the modest guy. She came up and kissed him. Very modestly, childishly, only for a moment touching his lips with her lips.
She knew that she would soon leave both this castle and this era. Fast forward a century. She wanted to express her sympathy to this stunningly beautiful guy in this way. And with this kiss, leave both him and yourself a memory of each other forever...

Episode ten
- These are the results, Mr. Grant, of my last visit to the past. I am truly grateful to you for giving me the idea for the Raphael portrait! I fell in love with this portrait! I'm so glad that I was able to preserve this masterpiece for posterity! At the same time, I tried not to disrupt the course of historical events. To not change anything in the past that could affect the present. The Nazis did not change anything in their actions, transferring the painting further to where they wanted to melt it down. How did they, the Nazi killers, like all other occupiers-invaders, who came to foreign land with an ax and sword, and who only knew about murder and looting, and not about works of art, knew that the package contained not the original, but copy?! Judging by the fact that information about the portrait has not yet appeared over all these years, it can be assumed that it was either lost, or destroyed, or is in someone’s private collection. And the owner doesn’t even suspect that he has not the original, but a copy!
Grant smiled mysteriously.
- I think you're right, Miss Gloria. Remember that I told you that in August 2012, one of the newspapers published an article about the representative of the Polish Foreign Ministry for the restitution of cultural property, Wojciech Kowalski, who allegedly stated that the masterpiece was not burned or destroyed, but was “safe in one from bank safes." The newspaper publication did not specify in which country the bank is located. Then the newspaper soon admitted that it had published a “newspaper canard” in order to increase its circulation. Since then, no new information about the portrait has really appeared. But one single, very tiny piece of information flashed through one day. It was said that the famous portrait of Raphael was in the private collection of some Italian millionaire. But then everyone remembered about the newspaper duck, besides, the information about this mysterious Italian was later not confirmed anywhere, so they forgot about him. But that’s why I remembered this incident. They said that in the collection of this lover of spaghetti and paintings there was not an original, but a copy of the portrait! Can you imagine?! Then lovers of sensations quickly forgot about that incident, since they were not interested in the copy, but in the original. But this information is valuable to you and me because perhaps the Italian actually had in his collection that copy that you secretly put in that box that was in the office of the Governor General?!
Gloria's eyes widened in surprise.
- Most likely, you are right... It is possible that later, already in our time, the age of technological development, this Italian, suspecting something was wrong, checked the canvas belonging to him for authenticity. And the examination showed that the age of the canvas and paints does not begin in 1514, but four centuries later! Since 1945! But then, when looters, thieves and scoundrels took the vilely stolen masterpiece out of Wawel Castle, they had absolutely no idea that there was a copy in the box...
The publisher smiled.
- Yeah... - he drawled thoughtfully. – You really did the incredible and saved a masterpiece of a genius for posterity! Without breaking anything in the past! You came up with a brilliant idea, my young lady! Now the priceless canvas lies in the dungeon of the castle, no one knows about it, it really has not influenced the course of historical events in any way all these years. Therefore, if we now enter the castle and take out the canvas you have hidden from the hiding place, then, as they say, we will not do anything bad to anyone. And on the contrary, we will return the masterpiece to future descendants! They will be admired by many, many generations!
The owner of the office looked at his interlocutor with sincere admiration. She smiled, took a sheet of paper folded into four from her purse, and placed it on the table in front of the publisher.
- During the time when I went down into the dungeons of the castle several times, I looked around very, very carefully and tried to remember everything. On this sheet of paper I drew you both a plan of the castle and, most importantly, a plan of the dungeon. And she marked on it the room, the wall we needed, and the specific place in the wall where the cache with the canvas was located. I think I did everything I could. And you yourself decide what to do with my plan, and what to do next. How to get to a masterpiece, take it out, and then show it to the world.
The editor smiled.
- Yes... The information bomb will be deafening... There has never been such a high-profile discovery in the world of art... My newspapers will make a noise... I can imagine...
“All this is true,” the girl sighed, “but I think about one thing.” Is the canvas intact? Has time and moisture damaged it? However, I noticed even then that all the basements in the castle are dry, there should be no moisture there. That's why I decided to do what I did. But still. A hundred years have passed. But the fabric is not a marble sculpture or a piece of jewelry. It is subject to decay...
- Let's hope for the best, Miss Gloria. After all, artists, before applying strokes to the canvas, prepare it for a long time and carefully. A primer and many other layers are applied that protect the canvas, including from moisture. Let's hope everything goes well with this masterpiece.
- I would really like this too! So that our efforts are not in vain. Yes... We did a great job... I love going on trips like this into the past... It's so exciting... There are no words...
“It also brings me incredible satisfaction, Miss Gloria, to delve into ancient archives, to find out information about mysterious disappearances and simply about mysterious cases that we could deal with in the future.” I have already collected information about such intriguing cases that you will definitely be eager to go back in time and unravel these mind-bogglingly exciting tangles of mysteries! But I won’t burden you with this information for now. First, take a break from this voyage. You already experienced a lot of excitement there. And when you're ready, tell me.
- You're right. I'm a little tired. But, to be honest, everything fascinates me so much that even now I’m ready to plunge into our new adventure again! But still, let's look at the calendar. Tomorrow is Christmas! In a week - New Year. Let's celebrate these magical holidays first, and then think about work! New Year is my favorite holiday! I always look forward to it! I have already grown up, celebrating it with my parents, as it was in childhood, is not so interesting to me now. But with whom then? I don’t know... Here... I think...
The publisher looked at her with a surprised look.
- Allow me! Don’t you have a young man with whom you could spend New Year’s Eve in romantic retirement, by candlelight, so to speak?
The girl made a cute grimace on her face.
- Unfortunately no…
The publisher raised his eyebrows.
- Allow me! Such a stunningly beautiful, sweet and charming girl has no friend?! I can't believe it!
- Alas... This is so...
- I do not believe! You are so beautiful that you must surely have admirers! Moreover, a huge number! Men simply cannot help but admire your beauty!
The girl sighed heavily.
- Well... Admirers, these are not friends yet... If someone likes you, this does not mean that something can work out with him. Well... For example... I’m a woman, I understand with every fiber of my soul every breath and glance of a man. I can see perfectly well that you like me too... So what? This doesn’t mean that we could have an affair... Or, at a minimum, we could celebrate the coming New Year together...
The clever woman, with a leisurely movement, picked up the figurine standing on the table and pretended that all her removal was focused only on this magnificent work of the master. Meanwhile, out of the corner of her eye, she secretly watched her interlocutor’s reaction. She noticed how he was literally paralyzed by what he heard.
“I... I...” he began, almost stuttering. - I would be very... I would be very happy to celebrate the New Year with you. If only you wish it...
It was clear that he tensed in anticipation of an answer.
The girl smiled.
- Well, if we allowed that I wished for this... And where would we celebrate the New Year? At your home?
And she turned her gaze from the statuette to the owner of the office. Her gaze was filled with slyness.
- No... - The publisher hesitated. “My big family will celebrate there.” And since we started talking about celebrating this magical, as you deigned to put it, holiday together, just the two of us, then I, of course, would have found another, amazing place where we could drink a glass of champagne at the hour when a turning point will come, and the new year will replace the old...
The slyness in the girl’s gaze became even greater.
- Well... And what, in your opinion, lies behind this mysterious phrase “amazing place”? A fancy restaurant? Or an equally cool room in a prestigious hotel?
Gloria looked at her interlocutor with a confident, unblinking gaze. Grant embraced the game. He also answered her without looking away.
- Whatever you want, Miss Gloria... It could be a restaurant, or a cozy and wonderful room...
The cunning woman's eyes narrowed even more. Mischievous imps jumped in her pupils.
- Well... And what are we going to do in this “cozy room”? You'll probably start pestering me? It is so? Yes? Just don’t answer me “no.” Otherwise I will be disappointed in you. I will consider you a liar. I see that you want me... You really want me...
The boxing concept of “Stare Fighting” could now be applied to these two. They looked at each other intently and did not look away. The pause of silence was clearly dragging on...
“It’s simply impossible not to want you, Miss Gloria...” Finally, the extremely excited voice of the always confident owner of the office was heard. Now his speech sounded unusually soft and exciting. – You are so beautiful... You are incredibly, stunningly beautiful... You have no right to be offended by this frankness of mine. Looking at you, reveling in your charm and charm, I simply cannot react differently... Understand me...
- I understand everything perfectly... We are adults. We all have the right to dream, to think about something of our own, without revealing our secrets to others. There is nothing wrong with the fact that we now trust our innermost thoughts to each other. Since you are so trusting with me, then I will answer the same. I will lift the curtain of secrecy on what is going on in my soul. I really like you too. Frankly, the age difference really bothers me. But I've heard very well about celebrity connections, where the difference is even greater. I am also susceptible to the temptation to reciprocate your feelings...
Hearing this, Grant rose slightly from an overabundance of emotions.
- Stop! – The girl abruptly interrupted his possible actions. “I just shared my secret thoughts with you.” I shared it as if I were sharing it with an old and good friend. We are friends after all! It is so!
- Of course, Miss Gloria... Of course...
- And it is extremely important for us to remain friends in the future! - Our heroine continued firmly and confidently. - For the benefit of our common cause! It is so important that it should be in first place! Sometimes personal matters interfere with work; there are many such cases. It would be a disaster if our possible personal relationships interfere with such a grandiose task to which we are now devoting ourselves without reserve! A cause that benefits the whole world! I will not be afraid of this big word! Therefore... If we succeed... I will repeat! If possible! “She emphasized the word “if.” - I'm just guessing! I did not decide yet! This should in no way affect our business relationship! I said everything! I will go! I still need to bring the master keys to the person from whom I took them...
Gloria stood up sharply, put the figurine on the table, and was about to head to the door.
But the owner of the office showed miracles of efficiency. While she was placing the figurine, he managed to get up from his chair, approach her, stand in front of her, and take her hands.
- I am incredibly grateful to fate, Miss Gloria, for the fact that you appeared in my life. You are the brightest, most extraordinary and important thing that has ever happened in my life. May I kiss you in gratitude for this. Just one kiss, Miss Gloria! One! I swear! I won’t allow myself more now...
Sometimes a man acts towards a woman in such a way that the concept of “impudent” is perceived by her not in a negative, but in a positive sense. Something similar happened now. Yes, Oliver pulled Gloria into his arms and started kissing her even before she gave her consent. But he did all this in such a way that it caused the girl not rejection, but approval and even admiration! The kiss was so long and passionate, brought her such a pleasant pleasure that she began to understand: the idea she had just expressed in a conversation about reciprocating Oliver’s desires could eventually become a reality...

Completion date for this story: December 24, 2023
Place of birth of the story: Great Britain, North Wales, Flint, Bolingbroke Street 135.




You are provided with the text of the next story of the new detective series, the author of which translated from Russian into English using the usual Google translator. We really need a literary editor for the English texts of these detective book series. I am ready to pay for the work of an editor and translator. Respond! Thank you! Best regards, author.
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