As we entered, I could not help being impressed by the wealth of articles in beautiful cloisonne enamel, in mother-of-pearl, lacquer, and champleve. There were beautiful little koros, or incense burners, vases, and teapots. There were enamels incrusted, translucent, and painted, works of the famous Namikawa, of Kyoto, and Namikawa, of Tokyo. Satsuma vases, splendid and rare examples of the potter’s art, crowded gorgeously embroidered screens depicting all sorts of brilliant scenes, among others the sacred Fujiyama rising in the stately distance. Sato himself greeted us with a ready smile and bow.
“I am just looking for a few things to add to my den,” explained Kennedy, adding, “nothing in particular, but merely whatever happens to strike my fancy.”
“Surely, then, you have come to the right shop,” greeted Sato. “If there is anything that interests you, I shall be glad to show it.”
“Thank you,” replied Craig. “Don’t let me trouble you with your other customers. I will call on you if I see anything.”
For several minutes, Craig and I busied ourselves looking about, and we did not have to feign interest, either.
“Often things are not as represented,” he whispered to me, after a while, “but a connoiseur can tell spurious goods. These are the real thing, mostly.”
“Not one in fifty can tell the difference,” put in the voice of Sato, at his elbow.
“Well, you see I happen to know,” Craig replied, not the least disconcerted. “You can’t always be too sure.”
A laugh and a shrug was Sato’s answer. “It’s well all are not so keen,” he said, with a frank acknowledgment that he was not above sharp practices.
I glanced now and then at the expressionless face of the curio dealer. Was it merely the natural blankness of his countenance that impressed me, or was there, in fact, something deep and dark hidden in it, something of “East is East and West is West” which I did not and could not understand? Craig was admiring the bronzes. He had paused before one, a square metal fire-screen of odd design, with the title on a card, “Japan Gazing at the World.”