Haila Osenfott had not been joking when she said she wanted Shade to model for an oil painting. After the maid brought the painting supplies, she truly set up an easel and had Shade stand beside the flowerbeds and shrubs in the snow.
An oil painting model could move, but not too much. During the somewhat tedious hour that followed, the noblewoman, still wearing her veil and painting intently, did not speak to Shade again. The maid standing behind Haila Osenfott had no intention of striking up a conversation with him either.
By the time the painting was finished and only coloring remained, it was already noon. The Old Butler came from the manor's front courtyard and handed Shade a letter:
"Sorry, Mr. Watson. The master has business at noon and will not be returning."
It was a letter Stone Osenfott had sent from the city. Prince William Anjou had kept him for lunch, and the two would be going to The Club for entertainment that afternoon, so he would not be able to return to the manor today.
Osenfott did not express much apology in the letter. He merely said that Shade could arrange another time. He clearly knew that Shade's visit meant he had found at least one of the three items, yet he still acted as though he did not care much. That seemed rather strange instead.
"Sorry, Mr. Watson."
Haila Osenfott apologized to Shade on her husband's behalf. Shade shook his head.
"Besides returning an item, I actually came here for something else. I'm looking for a statue, and it's very important to me. It took me a long time to learn that the statue was in Mr. Olsenford's possession."
As he spoke, he took out the photograph of the statue he had obtained from the