Yes Minister1980

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
[Bernard has a problem] Tell me about it.

Bernard Woolley:
Well, you know that jar the Minister was given in Qumran? Well, the Minister's wife liked it.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
I expect she did.

Bernard Woolley:
Then when I explained the rules to her, she looked terribly sad.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
They always do.

Bernard Woolley:
And then she asked was it really worth more than ?50 and she said wouldn't it be marvellous if it wasn't and she sort of... looked at me.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
But my dear Bernard, a 17th century vase...

Bernard Woolley:
Yes, I know, I know. But there was this terribly nice Qumrany businessman and we had a... a... a conversation and he valued it as a copy, not as an original. ?49.95.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
And you believed him?

Bernard Woolley:
Well, yes, he said he was an expert and he spoke Arabic awfully well. And so I accepted his valuation in good faith. After all, Islam is a jolly good faith.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Bernard, you took a grave personal risk. You're lucky nobody's been asking any questions.

Bernard Woolley:
Well, that's just it, you see, a journalist from the Guardian saw it in the Minister's house and started to ask a lot of questions. Of course, Mrs Hacker said it was a copy, but, well the Press are so... horribly suspicious of things.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Despicable.

Bernard Woolley:
So what shall I do?

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
The Minister must be told.