room, opened a large innovation trunk, took out a flat, hard case about eighteen inches by twelve and four inches deep, tucked it under his arm, and strode out.
At ten o'clock the four negotiators gathered again in the music room. They all settled down and got out their papers.
Richard lit a cigarette and looked at Adler. 'Well, my friend, have you got anything to say to us?'
Adler scratched his nose. Then: 'No, I'm sorry,' he said. 'I regret I cannot alter my position. Before anything else is discussed, I must have a firm understanding as to what arms and equipment the British government is going to supply, and an agreed timetable for their delivery; also full details of your contingency plans in the event that we are invaded. If I do not get this information, I shall be forced to withdraw.'
There was utter silence in the room following these words. Richard didn't react at all, just sat quite still, looking impassively at Adler.
Thornton's heart was in his mouth. Never in all his years of diplomacy had he felt quite so tense. He's overreaching himself, he thought. The Minister cannot possibly stand for an ultimatum like that, no matter what his instructions were. It would be too much of a capitulation. He's going to have to call Adler's bluff. Because the Duchy can't withdraw. They've got to have our help.
Eventually Richard spoke. He displayed no annoyance or disappointment. 'We seem to have reached deadlock, then. I certainly can give no firm commitments or any information such as you require until something is forthcoming from you in return.'
Adler shrugged. He seemed quite unperturbed. 'Then where do we go from here?'
'I don't see we can go anywhere from here. There's little point in continuing the talks.'
'Are you proposing to let me leave here and report to the Grand Duke that after travelling half-way across Europe especially to talk with you, you sent me home with nothing?'
'I am proposing nothing of the sort. All I propose is that you show yourself willing to negotiate - to give something in return; not just to make demands. If not, I'm afraid you'll have to report just that.'
There was silence again for a moment. Adler stared hard at Richard, as though he were trying to read his mind. Then he cast a quick glance at Felman, before looking back at Richard and saying: 'Then I suggest we adjourn now and spend the rest of the morning reconsidering our respective positions. We would both look rather foolish were we to break up now and have to report complete failure to our chiefs. Perhaps we can reconvene after lunch. Would that be acceptable to you?'
'Perfectly.'
'Then now you must excuse us. Felman and I have much to discuss.' And Adler got to his feet and hurriedly left the room, Felman on his heels.
Richard looked at Thornton. 'Whew, I thought we were in real trouble, then.'
'Certainly his last words came as a relief.'
'What the deuce is he up to, Thornton? And what's he going to do now? You try a forecast. Mine don't seem too accurate.'
'I would hazard the hypothesis that when he made that telephone call yesterday he was instructed to have one further attempt to - er, well, to get something for nothing. He has attempted, and failed. I think now he will make another call to report this, and will be told to settle this afternoon. I would suggest, Minister, that in order to help him save face, we prepare to make some small concession - simply to preserve the pretence that we are meeting him half-way.'
'Right. You put your mind to it, will you? Something that means nothing, but seems to.'
'Very well.'
'I think I'll go and stretch my legs. I've spent most of my time indoors the last few days. I'd like to get a little sun before the weather breaks - which looks as though it might be soon.'
* * *
Peabody found Lord Burford waiting for him in the collection room, in his hands a case very similar to the one Peabody himself was carrying. Lord Burford placed his casually down on a table. 'Ah, got it?
At ten o'clock the four negotiators gathered again in the music room. They all settled down and got out their papers.
Richard lit a cigarette and looked at Adler. 'Well, my friend, have you got anything to say to us?'
Adler scratched his nose. Then: 'No, I'm sorry,' he said. 'I regret I cannot alter my position. Before anything else is discussed, I must have a firm understanding as to what arms and equipment the British government is going to supply, and an agreed timetable for their delivery; also full details of your contingency plans in the event that we are invaded. If I do not get this information, I shall be forced to withdraw.'
There was utter silence in the room following these words. Richard didn't react at all, just sat quite still, looking impassively at Adler.
Thornton's heart was in his mouth. Never in all his years of diplomacy had he felt quite so tense. He's overreaching himself, he thought. The Minister cannot possibly stand for an ultimatum like that, no matter what his instructions were. It would be too much of a capitulation. He's going to have to call Adler's bluff. Because the Duchy can't withdraw. They've got to have our help.
Eventually Richard spoke. He displayed no annoyance or disappointment. 'We seem to have reached deadlock, then. I certainly can give no firm commitments or any information such as you require until something is forthcoming from you in return.'
Adler shrugged. He seemed quite unperturbed. 'Then where do we go from here?'
'I don't see we can go anywhere from here. There's little point in continuing the talks.'
'Are you proposing to let me leave here and report to the Grand Duke that after travelling half-way across Europe especially to talk with you, you sent me home with nothing?'
'I am proposing nothing of the sort. All I propose is that you show yourself willing to negotiate - to give something in return; not just to make demands. If not, I'm afraid you'll have to report just that.'
There was silence again for a moment. Adler stared hard at Richard, as though he were trying to read his mind. Then he cast a quick glance at Felman, before looking back at Richard and saying: 'Then I suggest we adjourn now and spend the rest of the morning reconsidering our respective positions. We would both look rather foolish were we to break up now and have to report complete failure to our chiefs. Perhaps we can reconvene after lunch. Would that be acceptable to you?'
'Perfectly.'
'Then now you must excuse us. Felman and I have much to discuss.' And Adler got to his feet and hurriedly left the room, Felman on his heels.
Richard looked at Thornton. 'Whew, I thought we were in real trouble, then.'
'Certainly his last words came as a relief.'
'What the deuce is he up to, Thornton? And what's he going to do now? You try a forecast. Mine don't seem too accurate.'
'I would hazard the hypothesis that when he made that telephone call yesterday he was instructed to have one further attempt to - er, well, to get something for nothing. He has attempted, and failed. I think now he will make another call to report this, and will be told to settle this afternoon. I would suggest, Minister, that in order to help him save face, we prepare to make some small concession - simply to preserve the pretence that we are meeting him half-way.'
'Right. You put your mind to it, will you? Something that means nothing, but seems to.'
'Very well.'
'I think I'll go and stretch my legs. I've spent most of my time indoors the last few days. I'd like to get a little sun before the weather breaks - which looks as though it might be soon.'
* * *
Peabody found Lord Burford waiting for him in the collection room, in his hands a case very similar to the one Peabody himself was carrying. Lord Burford placed his casually down on a table. 'Ah, got it?
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