The room was crowded. There were no chairs: people were meant to mingle, not sit reverentially. Several television crews had set up their gear near a carpet-covered stage, which was bare save for a small podium. A harpsichord stood in a far corner of the salon, but it was barely audible over the noise of the crowd. If there was anybody shedding tears over Grove, they were hiding it pretty well.
Pendergast leaned over. 'Vincent, if you are interested in any comestibles, now is the time to act. With a crowd like this, they won't last long.'
'Comestibles? You mean that food on the table? No, thanks.' His dalliance with the literary world had taught him that events like these served things like fish eggs and cheese that smelled so bad it encouraged you to check the bottom of your shoes.
'Then shall we circulate?' Pendergast began moving sylphlike through the crowd. Now a lone man mounted the stage: impeccably dressed, tall, hair carefully groomed back, face glistening with a professional makeup job. The crowd hushed even before he reached the microphone.
Pendergast took D'Agosta's elbow. 'Sir Gervase de Vache, director of the museum.'
The man plucked the microphone from the podium, his elegant figure straight and dignified.
'I welcome you all,' he said, apparently feeling it unnecessary to introduce himself. 'We are here to memorialize our friend and colleague Jeremy Grove-but as he would have wanted it: with food, drink, music, and good cheer, not long faces and lugubrious speeches.' He spoke with a trace of a French accent.
Although Pendergast had stopped the moment the director gained the stage, D'Agosta noticed that the FBI agent was still scouring the room with his restless eyes.
'I first met Jeremy Grove some twenty years ago, when he reviewed our Monet exhibition for Downtown . It was-how shall I say it?-a classic Grove review.'
There was a ripple of knowing laughter.
'Jeremy Grove was, above all else, a man who told the truth as he saw it, unflinchingly and with style. His rapier wit and irreverent sallies enlivened many a dinner party . '
D'Agosta tuned out. Pendergast was still ceaselessly scanning the room, and now he began moving again, slowly, like a shark that has just scented blood in the water. D'Agosta followed. He liked to watch Pendergast in action. There, at the liquor table, pouring himself a stiff drink, was a striking young man dressed entirely in black, with a neat goatee. He had exceptionally large, deep, liquid eyes, and fingers that were even more spidery than Pendergast's.
'Maurice Vilnius, the abstract expressionist painter,' Pendergast murmured. 'One of many beneficiaries of Grove's ministrations.'
'What's that supposed to mean?'
'I recall a review Grove wrote of Vilnius's paintings some years back. The phrase that best sticks in my mind is: These paintings are so bad they inspire respect, even awe. It takes a special kind of talent to produce mediocrity at this level. Vilnius has such talent in abundance. '
D'Agosta swallowed a laugh. 'That's worth killing over.' He hastily put his face in order; Vilnius had turned to see them approach.
'Ah, Maurice, how are you?' Pendergast asked.
The painter raised two very black eyebrows. As a fellow sufferer of bad reviews, D'Agosta had expected to see anger, or at least resentment, on the flushed face. Instead, it wore a broad smile.
'Have we met?'
'My name's Pendergast. We met briefly at your opening at Galerie Dellitte last year. Beautiful work. I've been considering acquiring a piece for my apartment in the Dakota.'
Vilnius's smile grew broader. 'Delighted.' He spoke with a Russian accent. 'Come by anytime. Come by today. It would make my fifth sale this week.'
'Indeed?' D'Agosta noticed Pendergast was careful to keep surprise from his voice. In the background, the director's voice droned on:'. a man of courage and determination, who did not go gently into that good night . '
'Maurice,' Pendergast continued, 'I'd like to speak with you about Grove's last-'
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman came up to Vilnius, her cadaverous figure draped in a sequined dress. In tow was a tall man in a black tuxedo, his bald head polished to gemstone brilliance.
The woman tugged at Vilnius's sleeve. 'Maurice, darling, I just had to congratulate you in person. That new review is simply wonderful. And so long overdue.'
'You've seen it already?' Vilnius replied, turning toward these new arrivals.
'Just this afternoon,' the tall man replied. 'A proof copy was faxed to my gallery.'
'. and now, one of Jeremy's beloved sonatas by Haydn . '
People continued talking, ignoring the man at the podium. Vilnius glanced back toward Pendergast for a moment. 'Nice to have met you again, Mr. Pendergast,' he said, drawing a card from his pocket and handing it to the FBI agent. 'Please drop by the studio anytime.' Then he turned back to the woman and her escort. As they walked away, D'Agosta could hear Vilnius saying, 'It's remarkable to me how quickly news spreads. The review isn't even due to be published for another day.'
D'Agosta looked at Pendergast. He, too, was watching Vilnius walk away. 'Interesting,' he murmured under his breath.
They drifted back into the crowd. De Vache had concluded his speech, and the noise level had risen once again. The harpischord had resumed but was now completely inaudible over the drinking, eating, and gossiping.
Suddenly, Pendergast took off at high speed, arrowing through the crowd. D'Agosta realized his aim was the director of the Met, stepping down from the stage.
