“This is the heart of one of the country’s great private collections. The rest is scattered around the apartment, which runs to seventeen rooms, or on loan to museums.”

“It’s astonishing.”

William appeared with a tray holding the bottle of Krug, two lovely champagne flutes, some canapés, and something wrapped in a napkin.

“Come, let’s sit down,” Sarah said, drawing him to the sofa before the fireplace, in which a cheerful fire burned.

William poured them both a flute of the wine and nodded at the napkin on the tray. “Yours, I believe, Mr. Barrington.”

Stone winced.

“Something for me, I hope,” Sarah said.

“I’m afraid not,” Stone replied. “The Krug is for you.”

“William,” she said, “you and Martha may go, now; Mr. Barrington and I will take care of ourselves for the rest of the evening.”

“If you need anything, please ring, Miss Buckminster,” William said.

“I’ll do no such thing. You and Martha take the rest of the evening off.”

“Thank you, Miss, and good night. Good night, Mr. Barrington.”

“Good night, William, and thank you for…” He nodded toward the napkin. William left them alone.

“All right, I’m dying to know what’s in the napkin,” Sarah said.

“I’m afraid it’s rather embarrassing,” Stone said. “I forgot that I had put it in the bag with the wine.”

She slid the tray toward her and began unwrapping the napkin. “Jesus Christ!” she said, recoiling from the weapon. “You might as well have brought a rattlesnake!” She picked up the pistol by the barrel with thumb and forefinger and handed it to him. “Hide it somewhere,” she said.

Stone took the weapon and tucked it into his belt at the small of his back.

“I remember that you used to go armed, Stone, but that was when you were a policeman. What’s your excuse now?”

“I’m afraid I’m in a rather delicate position,” Stone said.

“An angry husband?”

“Hardly. You remember Dino.”

“How could I forget the ’orrible little man?”

“Some years ago, Dino and I sent someone to prison, and he’s apparently decided to make us pay for it.”

“Who is this person?”

“We don’t know, really. We only know that he’s…tried to harm people close to us.”

“Is that why you didn’t show up for lunch?”

“Yes, it is. I was so glad to hear from you that I completely forgot that I have to be circumspect about whom I see. This started only very recently, and I’m still getting used to the idea that I shouldn’t endanger other people by associating with them.”

“Well, this is really very exciting, isn’t it?”

“I just don’t want it to get too exciting.”

“Surely, you don’t think you’re endangering me simply by having dinner.”