Rand let out more smoke. "She didn't. She employed an arms-expert, a
Colonel Jefferson Davis Rand, U.S.A., O.R.C., who is a well-known
contributor to the _American Rifleman_ and the _Infantry Journal_ and
_Antiques_ and the old _Gun Report_. You've read some of his articles,
I believe?"

"Then you're not making an investigation?"

"What in the world is there to investigate?" Rand asked. "I'm just
selling a lot of old pistols for the Fleming estate."

"I thought Fred Dunmore was doing that."

"So did Fred. You're both wrong, though. I am." He got out Goode's letter
of authorization and handed it to Rivers, who read it through twice
before handing it back. "You see anything in that about Fred Dunmore,
or any of the other relatives-in-law?" he asked.

"Well, I didn't understand; I'm glad to know what the situation really
is." Rivers frowned. "I thought you were making some kind of an
investigation, and as I'm the only party making any serious offer to buy
those pistols, I wanted to know what there was to investigate."

"Do you consider ten thousand dollars to be a serious offer?" Rand asked.
"And aren't you forgetting Stephen Gresham and his friends?"

"Oh, those people!" Rivers scoffed. "Mr. Rand, you certainly don't expect
them to be able to handle anything like this, do you?"