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e a 1970s California hustler。 The mouth was small； with teeth that held a certain feral rage。 Although Truitt imagined the man was smiling to be friendly； the effect from his grin made Truitt want to reach for his wallet to see if it was safe。
〃I'm Stanley Ho；〃 the man said； reaching the bottom of the stairs and extending his hand。
The stage was set and Truitt became the actor。
〃Paul Samuelson；〃 he said； extending a slightly limp wrist for a handshake。 〃The home office asked me to take over for Mr。 Lassiter； who has unfortunately been stricken with a bug。〃
Truitt's version of Samuelson was ing across as a light…in…the…loafers Michael Caine。
〃I trust you're familiar with this type of sculpture？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 Truitt gushed。 〃I did graduate studies in Asian art。 It's one of my favorite forms。〃
Ho motioned to the stairs； then led the way up。 〃The object is known as the Golden Buddha。 Are you in any way familiar with the piece？〃
They rounded the first leg of the stairs and crossed the landing to the second flight。
〃I'm afraid not；〃 Truitt said breathlessly。 〃Has it ever been displayed？〃
〃No；〃 Ho said quickly。 〃It has been part of a private collection for decades。〃
〃Then I shall examine it with an eye for parison to the other pieces I am familiar with。〃
They had exited the second flight and were winding their way around to the last set of stairs。
〃You have a beautiful home；〃 Truitt lied。 〃The staircases are mahogany； are they not？〃
〃Yes；〃 Ho said； pausing at the door to his office to scan a card that unlocked the door。 〃From Brazil and hand fitted without nails or screws。〃
Ho opened the door and stepped aside。
〃How lovely；〃 Truitt said。 He stared across the office to where the Golden Buddha sat。 〃But nowhere near as lovely as this。〃
Truitt walked over to the Buddha； followed by Ho。
〃Magnificent；〃 Truitt said easily。 〃May I touch it？〃
〃Please；〃 Ho said。
The insurance adjuster was acting just as Ho had hoped。 Equal parts respect and sublimation。 There was a good chance the appraisal would be in his favor。 If it was not to his liking； Ho was sure he could bully 《 the agent into capitulation。
Truitt rubbed his hand over the face of Buddha； then stared into the jeweled eyes。 〃Might I ask some about the history？〃
〃He's from the thirteenth century and from Indochina；〃 Ho said。
Truitt opened a small leather clutch he had been holding and removed a jeweler's eyepiece。 He placed it over one eye and examined the stones。 〃Exquisite。〃
Ho watched as the adjuster examined the Buddha from head to toe。 The man seemed petent； so he decided to ask him about the secret storage partment。 〃I had a historian dig into it a little and he mentioned that some of these pieces contained an inner chamber。〃
〃The part of Buddha where there is no ego；〃 Truitt said quickly； 〃the void。〃
〃Then you are familiar with the idea？〃 Ho said。
〃Oh； yes；〃 Truitt said。 He was glad the Corporation had seen fit to provide him with a report on ancient Asian art。 The 〃void〃 had been part of the study。
〃I can't seem to find one on this piece。〃
〃Let's look closer；〃 Truitt said。
The two men spent the next twenty minutes carefully examining the object； but no secret partment was found。 Truitt decided to use the revelation to his favor。
〃Shall we sit for a bit？〃 he asked Ho。
The men took seats around Ho's desk。
〃What value do you have in mind；〃 Truitt said； 〃that you would like our pany to underwrite？〃
〃I was thinking in the neighborhood of two hundred million；〃 Ho said。
〃That's an expensive neighborhood；〃 Truitt said； smiling。
Leaning forward； he spilled the contents of his leather clutch on the floor。 Scooping down to pick up the contents； he attached a small bug to the bottom of Ho's desk。
〃Silly me；〃 he said after the bug was attached and the bag placed back on his lap。
〃What do you think is the value？〃 Ho asked。
〃The absence of the secret partment actually adds to the rarity of the piece；〃 Truitt lied。 〃It places the age at least a few decades before what I had estimated。 The voids date from the twelfth century and later。 You may have something here that defies accurate pricing。〃
Ho smiled his feral smile。 He loved it when he bested someone in a deal； and he was beginning to think he'd outsmarted some of the wisest art collectors in the world。 At first； the 200 million he'd paid had seemed like a king's ransomnow it was looking like he'd bought cheap。
〃What are you saying？〃 he asked。
〃I could easily insure it for twice what you are seeking；〃 Truitt said； 〃but of course the premiums would reflect the increased value。〃
This was going better than Truitt could have hopedgreed had removed Ho's doubt in his identity。 He had e a stranger； but now he was a friend bearing gifts。 Cons only work when the mark wants to believe。 Ho wanted to believe。
〃But。 。 。 ；〃 Ho said slowly； 〃if I insured it for more； banks would loan on the increased value。〃
〃Yes；〃 Truitt said； 〃banks tend to follow our lead。〃
Ho nodded slowly。 〃Why don't you figure the premiums on four hundred million。〃
〃I would； of course； need to contact our main office for the quotes；〃 Truitt said； 〃but I can easily attest to the value。〃
Ho sat back in his chair。 The realization that he owned a truly priceless work of art was sinking into his soul。 Now his ego needed stroking。 A stroking that only other rich people could give him。
〃I'm having a party today；〃 he said。
〃I saw the preparations；〃 Truitt said； smiling。
〃You； of course； are invited；〃 Ho said； 〃but I was thinking of displaying the artifact to my guests。 I would feel more fortable if I had a rider covering the piece until I receive the actual quote。 Just something to cover today。〃
〃You are； of course； thinking of displaying it downstairs；〃 Truitt said。
Ho wasn't； but he was now。
〃Yes；〃 Ho said。 〃Perhaps out on the grounds？〃
Truitt nodded。 〃Let me make a quick call。〃
Ho pointed to his telephone； but Truitt whipped out a cell phone and hit the speed dial。 〃Samuelson here。〃
〃Richard； you're a magnificent bastard；〃 the voice said。 〃We have been listening for the last few minutes over the bug。 Nice work。〃
〃I need a quote on a one…day rider to Mr。 Ho's policy to cover a piece of art valued at four hundred million until we can e up with an accurate figure for long…term coverage。〃
〃La de dah； de dah。 All right then；〃 the operator on the Oregon said； 〃let me make up a number for you。 How about twenty thousand dollars？ Or whatever you decide。 But I'd take the fee in cash if I was you。 Then we can have a party after this is over。〃
〃I see；〃 Truitt said； nodding； 〃so we will require increased security。 Hold on a minute。〃
Truitt placed his hand over the telephone。
Back on the Oregon； the operator turned to Hanley。
〃Truitt's red…hot today；〃 he said。 〃I had not even thought of that angle。〃
Ho was waiting for the adjuster to speak。
〃The fee for the rider for the day will be eighteen thousand five hundred U。S。 But my pany is insisting on increased security。 Luckily； we have a local firm we usemy office will contact them and have some men out her