Trading Goods; Théodore Berteaut Subject: Trading Goods Who: Théodore Berteaut Where: Théodore's residence, London Warnings: TBA Open to: Aimé Laurent
TRANSCRIPT:
Dear Monsieur Laurent, Forgive me for contacting you without prior meeting. I believe we may have met at some point when you were still resident in Paris, but I doubt you would remember me. My name is Théodore Berteaut, and while still a resident of Paris myself I was able to prevent several items, both furiture and other heirlooms, from becoming property of the state or of individuals who would misuse them. Among several items which I have it on good authority belonged to your family, there is one particularly remarkable tiara, set with various rubies, opals and other stones, set into a fine silver frame, which I believe you would identify as belonging to your family. It is Russian in origin, perhaps some one hundred and fifty years old. It is one of the smallest of the items I have managed to have brought to England with me on my own escape. I would like to see these treasures returned to their rightful owners, but before I would do this I must regrettably ask you for a small sum to cover my own expenses, a sum, I assure you, is not over £500. If you would contact me I would be very glad to arrange a time for you to inspect your items, and we could negotiate a suitable way of transporting them to your new home. Yours, Monsieur Théodore H. Berteaut