XXVIIIBethan sat with bated breath as the lady from Davenport’s Auctions studied the two pistols, carefully observing every inch through her eye loupe. At last, she took the loupe out and slipped it back into its case.
“Definitely fakes!” she declared.
“Are you sure?” said Rodney.
“Absolutely,” she said, unfazed by his assumptions on her ability. “there’s a dead giveaway. I’m surprised no one ever spotted it.”
Bethan was intrigued and picked up one pistol. She studied it, rolling it over in her hands, but nothing sprang out at her.
“Henry Dixon was a master engraver; his work is highly sought after. An original Dixon engraving is clean, precise and, above all, perfect. Take a look.”
She handed Bethan her loupe and waited whilst Bethan spotted the myriad of bad workmanship.
“These wo
