Nell Gwyn's corset ( London 1885)

The archivist in the British Museum looked puzzled as he inspected it. Meanwhile the two forgers looked at each other smiling confidently, Tarquin spoke first, "and where did you obtain the garment gentlemen?" with a hint of sarcasm in his voice," well sir" said Vic t'was from a big house sale, some good stuff there, but to expensive for us. We just made a offer for the unsold tat. The corset was in some old laundry basket, by the looks of it, bin in the cellar for donkeys years,
Tarquin continued," and pray what lead you the believe it to be worn by Nell Gwyn" well replied Vic's partner in crime Billy, "It was the laundry list in the basket you see sir" and proffered a dog eared scrap to the expert
Tarquin's heart raced as he looked down the list of items. Handkerchiefs, silk gloves and at the bottom, an item underlined in red ( Nell Gwyn's corset). Tarquin's eyes rolled behind closed lids, he visualised the kings hands reaching for the mounds of flesh that it held restrained. Fumbling with the lacing, the king frustrated, sweeping her up towards the four poster bed.
Tarquin returned to reality. "I am just going to inspect it gents" putting on white gloves. he had to admit the needlecraft was exquisite, the closeness of whale bone stiffeners, topped with Honiton lace and pink bows
"Of course we will have to do some background checks" he pronounced. Billy interjected "we believe its the same one we seen her wearing in a picture on line guv", and its got a small monogram on the hem". The expert was starting to bubble inside, he thought think of the reputation amongst is peers, if its genuine, promotion and maybe a book deal perhaps a invitation to the Masons, secretly envying the the experts called to prevaricate on such matters
 
Billy and Vic excused themselves needing the toilet, beaming at each other as they peed in the urinal. " I think he's buying it said Billy!, that was inspired of you, seeing the monogram, and saying that old piece of tat could have been worn by Nell Gwyn, and from that point, the plan was formed. A friend had forged the laundry list from headed notepaper that came with the auction lot. As they both dried their hands thinking of the thousands soon to be lining there pockets.
Tarquin gave them a receipt for the corset and laundry list, the two con men pressing the expert as to the time frame to verify the articles as genuine. The expert thanked them, and assured them, that he was cautiously optimistic, given the amount of corroborating evidence
 
The auction inventory list had been distributed and there was great excitement and public interest, bidders from all around the word The corset had been mounted on a mannequin for display. The two crooks had booked a swish hotel in London's Park Lane, knowing they could easily pay the bill with the proceeds,  because the sale was the next day. After a slap up meal with washed down with an expensive bottle of wine. The two retired to beds in a suite with adjoining rooms, In the morning Billy woke gasping for breath his stomach pinched tight, shouting to his accomplice  "Vic are you ok" Vic appeared crawling on all fours "what in gods name was in that food he moaned"  
 
The note was lying on the dressing table in copperplate handwriting
 
 ( I have you in MY clutches you pair of charlatan's
for years I had to suffer being bound in these terrible  garments
I will haunt you until you change your ways.  
Every morning you will wake, as you are now  
dreading to go to sleep, this curse you have brought upon yourselves)
 
Signed Nell Gwyn,  
 
Unseen she admired her shapely figure, corset hugging her tight. Let out a ghostly laugh and left the room.
 
The end