Deadlight-Hall(27)

At first look, there seemed no reason to suspect any espionage activity. However, the post box address has proved to be an accommodation address in London’s East End – a small general shop, which we have had under what we term ‘light’ surveillance for some months.

It seems unlikely that enemy agents would go to such trouble to trace the whereabouts of two Jewish objects, however valuable. It is more probable that it is the ‘singer not the song’ that interests them – that it is the present owner or owners of the silver golems they wish to find. We cannot hazard a guess as to why they might be going to all this trouble to find the whereabouts of one or two people, but that is our conclusion.

I advise you to send a polite acknowledgement, saying you have no record of these figures. If you receive any reply, I would be very glad if you would notify me at once.

If, of course, you do hear of such figures being sold, either by your auction house or by any other similar establishment, I would be glad if you would send word to me without delay.

Yours faithfully,

Inspector Geo. Fennel.’

Carbon copy of letter sent by Ashby’s of London to Post Box B7921.

February 1944

Dear Sir

We have to hand your enquiry regarding two silver golem figures, but have not, at this present, been commissioned to deal with anything matching your description. However, should we be requested to handle such a sale, we will be very happy to advise you.

Yours faithfully,

for and on behalf of Ashby’s of London.

Department for Criminality and Theft

Post Box No B7921

London

February 1944

Sirs

We thank you for your prompt reply.

The golem figures are ones we are anxious to trace. If you hear of their whereabouts, or of any persons trying to dispose of them, we will be most grateful to know.

They are both stamped with an extra mark, alongside the main hallmark, but separate from it. One of those marks is of three vertical lines jutting up from a horizontal line. I sketch it at the foot of this letter for you so you may identify that figure if offered to you.

Yours respectfully.

This letter bore the same scrawled, illegible signature. The sketched symbol was the one Nell had found on Professor Rosendale’s figure. The symbol Michael had also found inside Deadlight Hall. She looked at it for a long time, then turned to the next two letters.

Carbon copy of hand-delivered letter to Inspector Fennel

Ashby’s Auction Rooms

London

March 1944

Dear Inspector Fennel

We have received a further enquiry about the Warsaw golem figures. This, however, comes from someone with whom we have dealt several times over the years, and who we believe to be a genuine dealer in jewellery and objets d’art. He is a Jewish gentleman of Polish extraction, modestly known in his particular field, and as far as we know, entirely trustworthy.

It is, however, a curious coincidence, and in view of the contents of your last letter, we are hesitant about trusting this to the normal postal service, hence the special delivery.

Yours sincerely,

for and on behalf of Ashby’s Auction House.

City Postbox 2991

Prague

March 1944

Dear Sirs

I write to enquire whether you ever have for sale silver objects with a particularly Hebrew connotation. A well-established client who collects such things is interested in acquiring a golem figure, and has commissioned me to make tentative enquiries. I am addressing the same question to other auction houses and appropriate jewellery establishments, but having dealt with your excellent company a number of times in the past, am hoping you may be able to help.

If you were to find yourselves offering such an item, I should be most obliged if you would let me know. Postal services to my country are, of course, erratic and unreliable in these times, and my work necessitates a degree of travel, so I have provided a poste restante address. As an alternative, Drummonds Bank, Charing Cross, can be used.

Sincerely yours,

Maurice Bensimon

Ashby’s Auction Rooms

London

March 1944

Dear Mr Bensimon

We have to hand your enquiry re. a silver golem figure, but have to advise you that we have no such object at present in our catalogues.

This is something of a specialist area, as you will appreciate, although we do occasionally receive commissions to sell such objects. If we should be asked to deal with such a piece, we will inform you at once.