Unintended Consequences

asked.
    “A twin-turbocharged V12-producing six hundred and fifty horsepower,” duBois said. “Top speed, two hundred ten miles per hour, zero to sixty in two-point-nine seconds.”
    “I’ve never felt anything quite like this,” Stone said.
    “Neither has anyone else. It has taken me six years to bring it from a clean sheet of paper to production.”
    “What sort of price will you put on it?”
    “In New York, with various taxes and dealer fees included, the MSRP would be about three hundred and fifty thousand,” duBois said. “However, if you would like one I will give it to you for, say, two hundred twenty-five thousand? I would like it to be seen being driven in New York.”
    “And when would you be able to deliver one?”
    “This is the first production model, which I have reserved for myself, so that I can test-drive it every day. We have thirty completed cars at the factory now, waiting to be shipped to various dealers in Europe and the States. One of them has your name on it, if you like. They are all metallic black and equipped exactly like this one. There are no options, so you have no other decisions to make.”
    “I’ll send you a check tomorrow,” Stone said. “I have just enough room in my garage for it.”
    “Turn right here, and we’ll go back to the house,” duBois said. “I have abandoned my guests, and I imagine some of them would like to have a turn in the car. Your car will be delivered to your home in a week or ten days,” he said to Stone. “The cars for the U.S. are being flown over.”
    •   •   •
    S tone pulled back into duBois’s driveway and stopped before the gathered guests. He got out and called to the crowd. “You won’t believe this!” he said to the group.
    DuBois assisted Helga from the car, and Stone took her arm. His driver from earlier in the evening appeared.
    “Mr. Barrington, I will drive you back to your hotel whenever you wish,” he said.
    “Thank you. Helga, may I give you a lift?”
    “Yes, thank you, but I’d like to visit the powder room first.”
    “I’ll be waiting.” She went back into the house.
    Rick LaRose approached. “I’ve brought your name up a few times, and all that I could learn is that duBois considers you a very special guest.”
    “He just sold me one of his cars,” Stone said.
    “Then you are a very special guest indeed,” Rick replied, “because he has declined even to take orders for the car before it reaches showrooms. Billionaires all over the world will be clamoring for it. Tell me, have you recollected anything of the past few days?”
    “Not a thing,” Stone replied, “and I’m wondering what I could possibly have done for Marcel duBois to make him so grateful to me.”

7
    S tone and Helga stepped into the Maybach, the doors were closed by footmen, and the car moved away, its only noise being the crunch of gravel under the tires.
    “Where would you like to go?” Stone asked.
    “The Plaza Athénée Hotel, please,” she replied. “I have an apartment there.”
    “What a coincidence,” Stone said, wondering if it actually was.
    “You are at the hotel, too?”
    “I am.”
    “How convenient,” she said, placing a hand on his thigh.
    Stone could not but agree. “How long have you known Marcel?”
    “Since my divorce—about two years.”
    “Was this evening typical of his style of entertaining?”
    “Except for the presence of the Blaise, yes, entirely typical. Marcel once told me that as a young man starting out, he always desired the best he could afford, and now that he can afford anything he likes, the results are remarkable. Can you afford whatever you like?”
    Stone laughed. “Yes, but my desires are more achievable than Marcel’s.”
    “That is probably wise. One should not try to compete with Marcel—not in any way.”
    “That’s good advice.”
    “I was astonished that Marcel offered you the car this evening, and flabbergasted that he gave you that price. That can only mean that he places a very high value on your acquaintance. Why is that, do you suppose?”
    “Helga,” Stone said, “I have been trying to figure that out all evening. I don’t even know why I was at the dinner.”
    She looked at him oddly. “Have you and Marcel known each other long?”
    “For less than a week,” Stone replied.
    “I am surprised that Marcel went out of his way to put us together,” she said. “He indicated to me that he had a very high opinion of you, and that impressed