(soft beat music) - [Narrator] From the dawn of creation, love, the greatest of all human emotis has been expressed in many form.

In paintings, in books, in music, but rarely in a rug.

Yet for centuries, the Muslim ms of North Africa have done just .

Forbidden to speak directly to their beloved, their passions take on a secret.

A code of love knots woven into their carpets, secrets, only an old soothsayer can reveal.

What you may well ask, has all this to do with Lovejoy?

(indistinct group chatter) (drum music) (indistinct group chatter) (singing in foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (indistinct group chatter) (speaking in foreign language) (soft music) - Of course, it's not your taste I'm questioning.

- Then what are you questioning?

- You say to me, darling, I bou.

Take a look at that.

Isn't this beautiful?

Sometimes, just occasionally, I would like a say in the matter, that's all.

- If I see something, I always think of you always, before I buy it.

- After all it is my house.

- What?

- My house, as well as yours is what I meant.

- Then perhaps you should try living in it.

- I really haven't got time to make an issue out of this, J.

Forget I spoke and go your own .

- And where are you going?

- Brussels, I did tell you.

Back on Friday.

(rain tapering) - Have a nice trip.

(rain sizzling) (thunder roaring) - Morning, Alex.

- Brilliant timing as usual, Lo.

(rain sizzling) - Something's up.

(rain sizzling) (engine whirling) Nine O'clock, on the dot.

Well, don't we have an appointm.

I mean, don't you want me to get you a toy boy?

I mean, at tall boy.

- No jokes this morning Lovejoy.

- Something's definitely up.

(footsteps swooshing) (Lovejoy knocking) - Come in, don't be bashful.

- So, what's the (indistinct).

- You're standing on it.

- Anatolian carpet.

- My carpet.

You may have found it, but it was my decision to buy it.

- A snip, as I recall.

- If you call 2,000 pounds for a rug a snip.

- You could have paid twice as .

- Try telling Alexander that, he's never liked it much.

- And what would he know about ?

- Don't knock him Lovejoy.

He's my husband.

He has many fine qualities.

- But he happen to get outta bed the wrong side and step on the carpet.

- Yes.

And suddenly we were doing an inventory of things I've bought for his house that he complained were mostly , not to his taste and that he hadn't been consult.

- Well, he's probably right about not being consulted, I me.

- If that was the house rule that he had to be here we'd be living with bare walls.

Anyway, the reason I've brought you into my bedroom Lovejoy is that I want you to sell that.

- No way.

- Why not?

- Because you love it, dearly.

- Don't you tell me what I love and don't love.

Just sell it and get as much as you can for it.

Will you, please.

(soft music) - The dragon and the phoenix, E, symbol of marital harmony.

- Well, you could have fooled m. - In Chinese mythology, the dragon is yang, the male.

Solar, light, daytime, the empe.

The phoenix is yin, Luna, female, dark, nocturnal - Don't tell me, the empress.

- You've got it.

(engine roaring) Of course in the Mongol period, it will also mean the two figurs doing battle with each other.

- [Erick] Oh, well that sounds more like it.

- But generally speaking, the dragon and the phoenix, (indistinct) Combining and alternating, allow the earth to move forward.

- How do you know all this Tink?

- Tourist guide books.

- But you never go anywhere.

- Travel in dreams Erick, dream.

- Lot 17 as viewed.

This is an Anatolian rug.

Date, 18th century, prime condition, unusual symbology.

Now, I have 1,500 pounds.

Who'll give me one, six?

One, six, this is a rather beau.

- This is a sad business Eric.

- [Auctioneer] One, six.

- She almost put in a bid herself (indistinct).

- And two, 2,000.

Two, one, 2,100.

200.

- Two, two sir.

- All right, let it settle in t. - At 2,300.

Four.

Yes, sir, 2,400.

- Two, four against you, sir.

- All right.

- Two, five, two, six, two, seven, two, eight, - Two, eight, against you, sir.

- 2,800, are you all done at 2,?

- [Auctioneer] Two, nine.

- [Neil] Two, nine.

- Slow down a bit, try just 50.

- And 50.

- At 2,950.

Do I hear 3,000?

At 2,950 pounds.

I'm selling, sold.

- It's yours, sir.

- Excellent.

- Now when all said and done, it's just a rug.

- It's a sad, sad business.

- Look after the ladyship.

(footsteps stomping) - Good Lord, Potty.

- What?

- Russell Potts, would you believe that man once rose to the rank of corporl in her majesty's arm services.

Cyprus, it was 1956.

- Didn't we lose Cyprus?

- Hello Neil.

- Lovejoy.

What do you want?

- [Auctioneer] Lot 18, this is.

- Lot 18 sir, showing now.

- This is a Berber Moroccan rug, woven in a village in the Atlas.

Although modern, it has the unusual feature.

Unusual feature of the dragon motif woven in, which we associated with orients as seen in the previous lot.

- Who bought the Anatolian?

- Why do you want to know?

- Sentimental reasons, Lady Jane would like it to have a good home.

- It was a company sir.

- Yes, but who's getting it?

Him?

- You know I can't divulge name.

- Shall we start at 200?

Who'll give me 200?

200, I bid.

Thank you, at 200.

- It probably contains a message from a young Muslim girl to her lover.

- [Auctioneer] At 300.

- She can't express her feelings in conversation like Christian girl can.

So, she weaves them into a carp.

- [Auctioneer] 400 pounds.

- You have beautiful brown eyes, she might be saying, and only her family can interpret the symbols to the girl's young men.

- [Auctioneer] We're all done a.

- Ah, that's really good.

Yeah, I like that.

- [Auctioneer] At 600, thank yo.

- Are you mad?

- Well, do I have six anywhere?

- It's getting a bit high.

- Just get on with it.

- At 600, thank you sir.

600.

At seven.

At 700 pounds.

At 800.

At 800 pounds.

- What's going on?

- Don't ask me.

- At 800 pounds.

At 900.

Thank you, I have 900 pounds.

- Nine against you, sir.

- 1,000, I bid 1,000.

1,100.

At 1,100.

- One, one against you.

- At 1,100.

You all done at 1,100.

At 1,200, it's against you, on .

- One, two.

- No, out.

- No bid.

- No bid?

What do you mean no bid?

(speaking foreign language) - Look here, you can't do that, come here at once.

- Gentlemen, can we conduct ours in a civilized manner, please.

The bid is 1,200 pounds.

It is against you on the right.

Are you all done at 1,200 pound?

Sold.

- Potty.

- Stinker.

(both laughing) Harriet, this is my old (indistinct), - If we could move on now to lot 19.

- Tinker Dill.

- Oh, how'd you do?

- Rather an ordinary looking ru.

- To a penny.

- So, what she want with it?

- More to the point, what did he want with it?

- Potty's going settle on Mrs. r in the nearby restaurant.

I can then join him in the pub for a quick one.

We'll quicken something up for y - What are you talking about Ti?

- Well, according to Potty, Miss Fisher's got a house full of treasures and she needs sorting out.

- Old lady's junk?

Lovejoy doesn't stoop to that.

You should know better Tink.

- Lovejoy can do as he pleases.

Sometimes one just gets, - A touch, a sniff, a feel.

- Of course one could be wrong.

- Well, you know my feel for evaluation Tink, if you've got that feeling, neg.

- But I'm feeling rather hungry.

Do you fancy taking me to lunch?

(indistinct) - It's all right for some.

- Well, old Chinese proverb, Ti.

When the carpets start leaving the bedroom, stay clear of the, - Removal man, husbands, parque?

- Well, whatever, the point is, Lovejoy should take heed of it, in my opinion.

- You think it was stupid.

Go on, say it.

- No, I understand why you did .

I just wonder what it will achieve, that's all.

I mean, if I'm Alexander, - What?

What if you're Alexander?

What?

- Well, I want to know why at this delicate stage, if it is delicate, my wife is trying to score poin.

Have you seen who's sitting over with there?

- Yes, your rug lady.

Would you rather have lunch wit?

- Well, no Jane, I'm with you.

- Oh, never mind.

- No, no, no.

If you want to ta, let's order a nice bottle of wi.

- I'm not trying to score points off Alexander, I'm trying to get his attention.

He's refusing to admit anythingg because it suits him.

- Is there something wrong?

I mean really wrong?

- Well, you've seen us together.

You've been noticing the signal.

- What signals?

- Oh, come on Lovejoy.

We used to laugh together.

Shared jokes.

We don't anymore.

- Hardly grounds for divorce.

- Who said anything about divor?

- It's a joke, Jane, it's a jok.

Janie, it's been a hard morning.

Very tiring, but you made a few bucks, so relax, order a drink.

(suspenseful music) - Isn't that?

- [Lovejoy] Yeah, it is.

- Lovejoy Antiques, Lovejoy.

- Oh yes, yes.

Look, she's over in the shed.

However, I should warn you.

She a bit, she's a bit reluctant about you being here, You see, you're the one who thinks it's .

What I'm trying to say is, you might get a bit (indistinct, don't be put off.

- I, I cut my finger, dear.

- Oh, Harriet, this is Lovejoy.

- Oh, - Hello.

- Yeah, yeah.

(indistinct) come in both of you, you'll get soaked out here.

- Come in, come in.

- Come on, come on.

(soft music) Come and dry yourself by the fi.

That's it.

- Thank you.

- I do so hate tools.

So vicious.

- Hello doggy.

- Back off Saskia.

Saskia, Lovejoy.

Lovejoy, Saskia.

- Hello, Saskia I thought Saskia was a girl's ne and this, he is definitely a.

- Well, I do know it's a girl's.

I just happen to like the name .

He'll never know, will he?

- Ah, lovely room?

- Yes.

Well, my dear Russell, whom I sometimes call Mr. Potts as he was when he used to teachy and cooking to my girls thinks that I'm a hopeless old .

He wants you to sort me out Lov.

That's what you like to be called, I gather.

Always the school boy, is it?

Never wanting to be Mister.

- You could be right, Harriet.

- Two (indistinct) together, we may find ourselves.

But I'm told I can trust you, so, you better do whatever you .

- Well, I've got Tinker and Eri.

- I'll get them.

- Right?

- [Russell] Tinker.

- Your umbrella stand.

- Oh yes, that.

- Early Qing vase, Kangxi era, worth at the lowest possible es, 40,000 pounds.

- But I bought it from a man in (indistinct).

I liked the blue.

What did we pay?

- I don't know.

900?

(speaking foreign language) - Captain's chair, oak, damaged.

What'd you get for it, Potty?

- 250.

- 250, I saw you coming.

50 top.

- Look at it, the seat split.

- Harriet, would you mind tellie why you spent 1200 pounds on a , which is worth two or 300 top w. I mean, unless I missed somethi.

- Lovejoy, I should have though, you could see why.

- Why?

- It's Saskia's rug.

- You serious, aren't you?

- Well of course I'm serious.

See how they compliment each ot.

- Early, John Broadwood, yellow, upright strings.

How much?

- 300.

- 10,000 - Harriet, I'd like your permission to swap rugs.

- Swap it?

- It's to solve a little myster.

You know you had a rival bidder at the auction, yeah.

- Yeah, didn't get it.

- No, I know.

- What Ms. Fisher means is thaty he didn't want it badly enough.

So, his valuation is finally of no importance.

- No, dear, that isn't what I m. What Lovejoy means is that there may be some additional value to the rug, unrelated to wolfhounds.

He wants to know what it is to .

Anyway, it's usually of little interest to me, the price of things, you know.

- The price of things is half the fun Harriet.

Look at the Qing vase, Eric.

Well, this is our rug.

See, it's the same color, little difference in the detail of the pattern, but how bad is it?

- What should we do Mr. Potts?

- Well, what would Lovejoy?

Let's have fun and pay some bil.

- Eric.

The rug.

- Me?

- Get the rug.

- Good doggie.

Nice doggie.

Nice doggie.

(wind swooshing) - Well, looks like you feelings were right Tink.

(engine revving) (suspenseful music) What a house and what a woman.

A diminishing breed, Eric.

- If that Kangxi is real.

- Oh, it's real all right Tink.

I've got a client who'll kill f. - Hang on a minute.

You're not gonna rip off a dear old lady, are ya?

- Eric please, would I do a thing like that.

Ah, we need an expert to look at this first anyway.

- What are we looking for Lovej?

Something in the weave, in the ?

- Something Tink.

There is something there.

I've seen it in a young man's f. - [Erick] But it's just a rug a?

(door opening) (floor crackling) - What's the time?

- Sorry to wake you.

Here.

- What's this?

Oh darling, it's beautiful.

- I saw it in a shop window in .

- Oh.

- Here, let me help you.

Just a minute.

(floor crackling) (light switch clicking) - Oh darling, thank you.

It's beautiful.

(clock ticking) (envelope crunching) I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, darling.

It's mean, stupid and horrible of me, I'm sorry.

(engine whirling) (engine revving) - Lovejoy.

Lovejoy.

There's been a robbery.

- What?

- Well, this chap came to the d, offering a mobile service.

But the carpets always need cleaning in this house.

- And he stole my rug.

- I was overing, in the kitchen.

I came back in here and he'd snatched it and gone.

And that stupid thing was just sitting there.

- And he took nothing else?

That's strange.

- Have you called the police?

- No, no.

I suppose I should have, but I called Tinker, instead.

- This carpet cleaner, black hat, swarthy, look Morocc?

- How do you know that?

- Oh, Lovejoy, we owe you an apy and we must pay for your carpet.

- No, no, don't worry about tha.

But shouldn't Saskia be in the ?

And you need an alarm.

- I can't abide the things.

- Harriet, you are a lady in your middle years.

You and Mr. Potts live surrounded by beautiful things in splendid isolation protected, you need an alarm.

- It's very sweet of you.

- I also think you should change your umbrella stand.

- Lovejoy, I'm not selling it.

- Well, not even if I found you something else in blue.

- One grows fond of things.

- Lovejoy, Jane, Monday, half p. Phone me when you get a moment,.

- Who was that?

- Lovejoy.

- Ah.

- He wasn't in, but you are.

That's nice, the day's ours the.

- Why not?

- Well, it has no age at all, about three months old at most.

- But is there anything unusual?

Anything that catches your eye, Mr. Beeston?

(singing in foreign language) - Well, it doesn't usually associate the dragon and the phoenix for the Berber.

Those rugs are really from the (indistinct) that have been examples found in Turkey, for example.

You need a professor of Islamic studies to tell you if that was significant.

Personally, I wouldn't pay more than 200 for it.

- What about love messages from Muslim girls?

Couldn't it be that?

- Well in the villages, the girls might still follow their tradition, but not for export, I wouldn't .

- Yeah, but one of the rugs could have slipped out by mistake and our man could be after it Lovejoy.

'Cause his girlfriend's trying to tell him something.

- There is one other possibilit.

Some of these rugs coming out of North Africa recently, there have been rumors about messages concealed in the symbology, drug deliveries, times, places, that sort of thing.

- The dragon.

- Heroin.

- But nobody's been able to pro.

- Look Tink, this could be a har and these four points here could be a date.

The fourth or the fourth month or four kilos.

You could see how it might work, can't you?

- Yes, it could be a harbor.

It could also be my auntie Fanny's shopping list.

- [Jane] Lovejoy Jane, Monday, half past ten, phone me when you get a moment.

- What are we gonna do with this rug Lovejoy?

- Put it back in a pond, see who comes to fishing.

- But it's not ours to do that with, is it Lovejoy?

It's Miss Fisher's and she won'.

- No she will Eric.

She will.

- Come on Eric, down the pub.

- Bye Eric.

- He's in a funny mood aint he?

- It's not your turn, it's mine.

- Hello.

Hello?

(telephone tapping) (thunder roaring) Hello Alex, is Jane there?

- [Alex] Not now Lovejoy.

- How long for?

- A year, maybe longer.

- But we would fly back?

- Well, one wouldn't rule out occasionally.

- Because how would we run this?

- Mathew's will run.

- You'd put Matthews in sole ch.

- Yes, he's extremely efficient.

- You're mad.

- I trust Matthews with any bus.

- Running (indistinct) is not just business Alex, it's people and you cannot abandon your people to a cold, gray optimeter, like.

- Well, as I see it, there's no alternative.

Hong Kong is where the main thrt of my business life is at the m. And with the situation as it is, Hong Kong is where I have to be.

- And if we are to continue to ?

- It's like any number of professions, Jane, the army, the diplomatic servic.

- Good God, Alex.

- What?

- Do you want me living with yo?

- Of course.

- Socially, socially, you need me at your side.

- It does help, yes.

It's been one hell of a year, J.

It doesn't let up, you know tha.

One gets swept along without time for anything, but in Hong Kong.

- What's the climate like in Ho?

- Not unpleasant, a lot better than out there, except in the rainy season of c. The truth is, I don't enjoy living in England anymore.

I've got a distaste for England.

I get my excitement abroad.

It's a different me.

More vibrant, more fully alive.

(rain pattering) - In the past seven months, do you know how many nights you've spent abroad?

162.

- Oh, for God's sake.

- You're asking me to give up everything I care about.

Even the small matter of a care, to go and live in a place that I don't know, where we're going to be kicked .

I've got to be absolutely certain where we stand.

- Yes.

So, what are you saying?

- I'm saying you're a healthy man.

You've been away from your wife.

You know what I'm saying Alex.

I'm not talking about some casu, though, God knows these days.

I'm saying, is there someone else in the running for Hong Kong, if I don't go?

- I shouldn't think so.

(rain pattering) - Well, is there someone else a?

(rain pattering) - I don't know.

- What do you mean?

- I don't know.

I'm married to you.

- What does that mean?

- It means what it means, we're married for better or worse.

- What are you trying to say?

- I'm saying that there might b, is some counterpart in my life to your relationship with Lovejoy.

- But I've never slept with Lov.

- It's not about sex Jane, an emotional relationship, even without sex can be very po.

- I always thought we had the Lovejoy thing under control between us.

- Yes, well, I always tried to give that impression.

- Sorry if it gave you pain.

- No, no, it's all righty.

It was by and large understood.

(rain pattering) - And this lady of yours, do I get any details?

- No.

(rain pattering) - But if I say yes to Hong Kong?

- She'll evaporate, along with Lovejoy.

- Lot 56, a Berber rug from Morocco as viewed.

Now, this particular rug has already caused some interest.

- Hello Neil, not only on your phone today.

- What are you up to Lovejoy?

- With the unusual motif of the dragon and Phoenix more usually associated with oriental carpets.

- Word is, you are playing sill.

- Sometimes it takes two bites to appreciate the cherry.

- Now, do I have an opening bid?

Thank you sir.

At 350.

At 400.

At 450.

At 500.

At 500 pounds.

Are you all done at 500 pounds?

At 500 pounds.

I'm selling.

- Take up the running Tink.

- Right up to the tape.

- Within reason, yeah.

- Six.

- At 600.

Thank you sir.

I have 600 pounds.

Seven.

At 800.

At 900.

I have 900 pounds with this most unusual rug.

At 1,000.

At 1100.

At 1200.

At 1,300.

At 1,400.

At 1,400 pounds.

The bid is against you, sir.

Have you all done at 1,400 poun?

Sold.

- Well, nice work Tink.

(speaks foreign language) But who's going to pay for it?

- Don't ask me.

- All right officer, you got what you wanted.

- What's that?

- You got the drug squad.

They went that way.

- Lovejoy, you call me down here saying drug runners are sending messages in carpets.

You ever met a drug runner Love?

If they'd have wanted that carpt they'd have ended up with it, b.

As it is, they haven't and you .

Look, do me a favor.

Next time you get a bright idea, keep it yourself.

- We're playing a very dangerous game here, Lovejoy.

- Law doesn't agree with you Ti.

As far as they're concerned, we are in the clear.

- I don't hold with drugs mysel.

I won't pretend that I don't enjoy the occasional drink, but alcohol isn't a drug.

Is it Lovejoy?

- Yes it is.

- They're very dangerous people, but when I die, I want to die i, by myself without any help from.

(suspenseful music) - Well, I reminded her of her favorite niece, Nancy she's at- - Lovejoy.

- Awful really.

Well, Harriet said, "She would leave it to her in her will."

So, I took Lovejoy's advice and I reminded her once again about the dangers of theft.

- Stay Saskia.

- Anyway, it seems to have had the desired effect because suddenly last night at , she announced she would sell.

- Ah, well done Potty.

- On condition, you replace it with what she likes as much.

- Tell her it's a deal.

(telephone tapping) - I find all of this very unsettling Mr. Potts.

- Well, at least the commission on the vase should cover what we're losing on the rugs Tink.

- What you're losing Lovejoy.

- Job for you Erick.

Scout the neighborhood, look for something to bun umbre.

- Preferably blue.

- Preferably blue.

- How much have I got to spend?

- Whatever it takes.

- Right.

- Any time today will do Eric.

- All right, all right.

Look at that.

(footsteps stomping) - Blue Eric.

- Blue.

(soft music) (engine revving) - Mmh.

- Mmh.

(soft music) - Lovejoy, Lovejoy.

(Abdel knocking) (footsteps swooshing) (Abdel knocking) (suspenseful music) (engine roaring) (suspenseful music) (engine revving) (suspenseful music) Erick.

(engine roaring) Well, go on.

(engine roaring) (suspenseful music) - What's he doing?

(suspenseful music) (tires screeching) - Hey, hey.

- He's coming back.

(engine revving) (suspenseful music) - Ah, I get it.

(tires screeching) (suspenseful music) - All right, Abdel.

Time's up.

Can't say we haven't tried.

- Masquerading as a carpet clea.

- I think we should call the po, just like Jane suggested.

- Why you want to know?

It's my life, not yours.

Why you want to interfere?

You're not policeman.

- You've broken the law.

- I've don't you no harm.

- He has a point Lovejoy.

- Yes, he was very polite.

- Well, he's stolen from two ho.

One of the mine.

he's nicked 600 quiz worth of g. - Three.

- What?

- Three.

He's giving you your rug back.

- Yeah, 300 quiz worth of gear.

- We, we can negotiate.

- What?

- If it isn't drugs Abdel, and it's nothing criminal.

Can't you tell us what it is?

- It's a good question.

- It could be arms dealing.

- You got a cigarette?

- No.

- You?

no.

- Sorry.

- [Abdel] No?

- No.

More mint tea?

- It's my girlfriend, I ask her to marry me.

In the Muslim tradition, she put her answer in this rug.

I work for her uncle, uncle Sai.

He in the carpet business, this is one of his.

Big family where, only he knows her answer.

Only he can interpret.

The carpet is sold in auction.

I have to get it back to know if (indistinct), to know my future.

(Abdel sobbing) - That's what I said Lovejoy.

- You want us to believe this?

- Well, how romantic, if it's t. - No, no, it is true, it is tru.

You ask uncle Said.

Ask him, put me out of my torme.

(Abdel crying) - Oh Abdel don't worry.

- What do you think the truth i?

Is it a scam for drugs or arms with uncle Said playing Sydney Greenstreet?

Or is there, as the lady says, still such a thing as romance?

And are there fairies at the bottom of my garden?

(Abdel crying) - Yes, young Abdel has been absolutely truthful with you.

It is a tradition in the village I come from.

I have a beautiful niece.

This young man wants to marry h. Frankly, I am not convinced of his suitability, but the girl has put her feelins into a message in the rug.

Be seated Mr. Lovejoy.

- So, she could be saying, "I l, but you need to lose a couple o" Or, "It's your brother I fancy," but she communicates through th.

- As you say.

- And that's all this has been .

- What else?

- Gone to a lot of trouble?

- Well, when the heart rules.

- You, I meant.

You've gone to a lot of trouble.

I mean, you put one of your rugs up for auction.

Then you let it rise way above market price and risk having to buy it back, you lose it and you steal it back from the person who did buy it.

A harmless, innocent lady, more risk involved there, and you bid for the second time, you lose it again.

Then you get Johnson from the auction rooms to tell you his new home, my pl.

And then you try and nick it ag, all this for a love message?

When Abdel could get an answer without breaking the tradition of face-to-face by simply placing a long distance telephone call.

No, it's a fairy story.

Isn't it?

Isn't it?

Or is it?

or is it about arms or is it about drugs or is it?

- Where is the rug now?

- Where it can't be taken to th?

What's it worth to you?

- All right, I will tell you.

For a sense that you and I Lovey are birds of the same feather.

No, it is not drugs or arms.

Of course not.

That is nonsense, to communicat?

I know it is the world we live n to expect so little of the humae that we are always thinking the, but appearances can be deceptiv.

For I tell you, you are looking at a merchant.

Yes, by necessity, but also a gentleman, a scholar and a poet.

- Really?

- A year ago, a man arrived at .

A bedwin, blind from birth, but he had a song to sing to us.

From the subconscious of an uneducated man, there came forth pictures and ps of an ancient culture that was not his own.

From beyond the Euphrates River.

And even as far as India itself.

So many fascinating questions wd of memory of our own North African Berber history.

Even on the mysteries of reincarnation itself.

I put the carpet on show for aun as a test, I make no claims.

I wait to see if there is anyone who shares my excitement.

Yes, there is.

A head mistress.

I am thrilled to beats.

- She bought it for her dog.

- What?

Dog?

What about the second time?

The military gentleman?

- Oh, Major Dill?

The Major's quite a scholar.

- He saw something.

- Must have done to pay that pre for an ordinary Berber rug.

I understand he's having it ched by a Cambridge Professor of Islamic Linguistics.

- Good, good, excellent.

When shall we have the verdict?

- Blind, illiterate bedwin visi.

More likely, he's trying to create a phony market for Moroccan carpets.

- Not such a bad idea Tink.

We've gotta check out uncle Sais and whip up a bit of interest.

We need a top man in Islamic li.

Any ideas?

- Real or imaginary?

- Doesn't matter to us.

It costs both ways, we are in p. - Ah, Harriet Fisher is in poss.

- Well, that's what I meant Tin, we're doing this for her, for h. - I know a (indistinct) down the pub, who's got a brother.

- Just set it up Tink, set it up.

- You don't mind if I have a large one while I'm down there, do you Lovejoy?

- [Lovejoy] Lovejoy Antiques, L. - Please come.

- Jane?

Jane?

To when though was this?

- Yesterday after breakfast, I thought we could negotiate, but it became clear that he was forcing me to choose.

- Hong Kong?

And why didn't we talk about th?

- You were busy.

Anyway, it was really a decision I had to make on my own.

No conferring.

Don't you agree?

(soft music) Anyway, on Thursday night I tolm that I wasn't going to Hong Kon.

And he seemed to take that as ae that our marriage was over.

We passed a very silent night.

Then he announced tersely, that he had business in London and he'd be staying at his club.

(soft music) - Janie.

- Yes.

- Would you ever consider selling your umbrellas stand?

Hmm?

Hmm?

- You know, I think I almost prefer it.

- Lovejoy.

- Thank you.

- Sherman also attributes the dragon Z layers (indistinct).

Presumably he means (indistinct) to (indistinct), slightly to th.

- He's still going on?

- He is however, are somewhat confused authority.

Since the origin of both types is probably Karabakh, which is even further southwest.

But the large S you see, has most commonly been interpreted as a highly stylized dragon.

You can see how it's degenerated into an abstract form with only the vestiges of its original zoomorphism.

- Professor Ottway, what does i?

- Mean?

- Yeah, yes, what does it mean?

- What does it mean?

I'm sorry, I thought I made it quite clear.

What it means is that you are in possession of one of the most remarkable, fascinating and original discovs in North African Islamic histor.

(engine revving) - Lovejoy.

- Alright, uncle, first things first, your family, you can translate it.

Put the poor lad out of his mis.

- He doesn't like me, he won't tell the truth.

- Yes he does.

He's a gentleman, a scholar, an.

- She says, "You have wonderful" she says, "Her heart is yours," she says "She will marry you," if uncle Said gives his permiss.

Ah, we will discuss that later.

What news from Cambridge?

Come on, what has the scholar p?

- Well, he's still at it, you'll be pleased to hear uncle.

You know, these scholars, once they get stuck, aint it Eric, apparently some of the zoomorphism has gone, - Zoomorphism.

- Which is not a bad thing.

- He's writing a PhD on it.

- He's gonna post it to you.

Now, this carpet uncle.

We all know the value of this.

- Yes, I remember- - Bought it by auction the othe.

Yeah, I was there a friend of m. She sold it by mistake.

- I have grown rather fond of i.

The dragon and the phoenix.

- Ah, yes, the yang and the yin representing marital harmony.

Of course in the Mongol period.

- Shut up, Eric, the thing is uncle, would you be prepared?

- To sell to you?

- To make a beautiful lady happ?

- Yeah, of course he will.

- Shut up Abdel.

Now let me see.

How much did I pay for it?

3,000.

- So, I'm offering you two with the scholarship, excuse me, gentlemen, on this one, which I've already, thrown in, if the authentication comes good, then the price of all your carpp and you will have a nice little run going, won't you?

A series of Berber carpets all as valuable as this one.

- No, no, no, no.

I'm talking about this one, 3, 000 and a half.

- He would, you would, wouldn't you?

You'd sting me for the other 50.

That one's already gone for two and a half grand in two buys, before authenticat.

I've got you on a roll here.

- 3,000 and a half for this one.

Take it or leave it.

- No soul, no romance.

Gentleman, scholar, poet, just .

- Just like you my friend.

- Three.

(paper bills crunching) one, two.

- Well, you lost 1400 on the second auction when Tinker bought it.

And then there's the six, well, seven umbrella stands.

- Seven?

- Look, I didn't put the pothole there, did I?

They didn't even have the signs up, did they?

Too busy making tea, weren't th?

Well, anyway, let's say that's 750 down on them.

'cause George Mark said, "Your credit wasn't up to it."

And as far as he's concerned, you might as well be running a furniture removal business, the way you are carrying on.

- Saskia, get out of my chair.

- One cheque, one rug.

- Oh, Lovejoy.

You've brought it back.

- Oh and a good job too.

Let's get this on the floor.

- Lovejoy, Saskia's been sulking ever since the rug was pulled out from underneath him, so to speak.

He won't budge from Mr. Pott's .

- Saskia, to your rug.

- My dear Russell, you'll just have to be patient.

You know what he's like.

It may be that he just prefers .

- Well, maybe he does, but it's.

- Then we just have to find ano.

- But, there's no guarantee he'll like the new chair, is there?

- Not for Saskia Russell, for y, - But I like this one.

(engine revving) - Lovejoy, Lovejoy.

- So, there's the 1400 on the second auction, when Tink bought it, Then the 750 on the umbrella st. Then the three and a half grand you paid uncle for Lady Jane's .

Then the earlier expenses varios and laying it all off against your commission on the vase, which you are being very coy abt by my reckoning, - Everybody is happy Eric.

I'm happy.

Tink is obviously happy.

Said's happy, Abdel's happy, Harriet's happy And Jane will be deliriously ha, - But I'm not happy, Lovejoy.

- Where's Lovejoy going now?

- Inside to return a carpet.

- Well professor Ottway's completed his verdict on the blind tribesman and it's genuine like I tried t. - I'll pull the other one Tink.

- It's true, the stuff in here, a bedwin couldn't have known abt (indistinct), those carpets are gonna make old Said a lot of money.

- What, and this professor Ottway's kosher?

- Of course he is.

He's the chair of Islamic Studies at Cambridge University.

He's got letters after his name as long as your arm, no.

- Old Howard's brother down the?

- Who did Lovejoy think he was?

- Well, he thought it was one of your, so did I?

So, it is worth something, what are we talking about Tink, five, six grand?

So, we've got something out of this fiasco after all.

- But we haven't got anything.

Doesn't belong to us.

Belongs to an Irish wolfhound.

- Oh, Lovejoy.

He sells a rug, he buys a rug, then he buys another rug, then he buys the first one back.

- And the umbrella stands.

- That's right, and the umbrell.

So, that's five deals he's done on all of them up the spout.

He's lost money on every single.

He's lost his touch, his magic.

- There's more to life than dea.

- What?

- I don't think Lovejoy's lost .

Might have lost his heart there.

- Ey?

(soft music) - I owe you.

- No you don't, I covered in.

(soft music) - Lovejoy (soft music) thank you.

(soft beat music)