factory and the stuff embarked on a Russian ship. Or, easier still, just send them across the border to France, break up, repack and send to Czechoslovakia -- by the 1921 "in transit" agreement goods can be shipped from countries A to C clear across B without benefit of any customs examinations. Beautifully simple, is it not?'
'It is,' Reynolds admitted. 'The governments concerned must be at their wits' end.'
'The governments!' The Count laughed. 'My dear Reynolds, when a nation's economy booms, governments become afflicted with an irremediable myopia. Some time ago an outraged German citizen, a socialist leader by the name of, I think, Wehner -- that's it, Herbert Wehner -- sent to the Bonn Government a list of six hundred firms -- six hundred, my dear fellow! -- actively engaged in contraband trade.'
'And the result?'
'Six hundred informants in six hundred factories sacked,' the Count said succinctly. 'Or so Wehner said, and no doubt he knew. Business is business, and profits are profits the world over. The Communists will welcome you with open arms, provided you have what they want. Ill see to that. You will become a representative, a partner, of some big metal firm in the Ruhr.'
'An existing firm?.
'But of course. No chances and what that firm doesn't know won't hurt them.' The Count pulled a stainless steel hip flask from his pocket. 'You will join me?'
'Thank you, no.' To Reynolds' certain knowledge, the Count had drunk three-quarters of a bottle of brandy that night already, but its effects, outwardly at least, were negligible: the man's tolerance to alcohol was phenomenal. In fact, Reynolds reflected, a phenomenal character in many ways, an enigma if ever he had known one. Normally a coldly humorous man with a quick, sardonic wit, the Count's face, in its rare moments of repose, held a withdrawn remoteness, almost a sadness that was in sharp, baffling contrast to his normal self. Or, maybe his remote self was his normal self....
'Just as well.' The Count fetched a glass from the bathroom, poured a drink and swallowed it in one gulp. 'A purely medicinal precaution, you understand, and the less you have the more I have and thus the more adequately is my health safeguarded.... As I say, first thing this morning I fix your identity. Then 111 go to the Andrassy Ut and find out Where the Russian delegates to this conference are staying. The Three Crowns, probably -- staffed by our people -- but it may be elsewhere.' He brought out paper and pencil and scribbled on it for a minute. 'Here are the names and the addresses of seven or eight hotels -- it's bound to be one of these. Listed A-H, you observe. When I call you on the phone, 111 first of all address you by the wrong name. The first letter of that name will correspond to the hotel. You understand?'
Reynolds nodded.
'I'll also try to get you Jennings' room number. That will be more difficult. I'll reverse it on the phone -- in the form of some financial quotations in connection with your export business.' The Count put away his brandy flask and stood up. 'And that, I'm afraid, is about all I can do for you, Mr. Reynolds. 'The rest is up to you. I can't possibly go near any hotel Where Jennings is staying, because our own men will be there watching them, and, besides, I expect to be on duty this coming afternoon and evening until ten o'clock at least. Even if I could approach him, it would be useless. Jennings would know me for a foreigner right away, and be instantly suspicious, and, apart from that, you are the only person who has seen his wife and can bring all the facts and necessary arguments to bear.'
'You've already done more than enough,' Reynolds assured him. 'I'm alive, aren't I? And I won't leave this room till I hear from you?'
'Not a step. Well, a little sleep, then on with the uniform and my daily stint of terrorising all and sundry.' The Count smiled wryly. 'You cannot imagine, Mr. Reynolds, what it feels like to be universally beloved. Au
'It is,' Reynolds admitted. 'The governments concerned must be at their wits' end.'
'The governments!' The Count laughed. 'My dear Reynolds, when a nation's economy booms, governments become afflicted with an irremediable myopia. Some time ago an outraged German citizen, a socialist leader by the name of, I think, Wehner -- that's it, Herbert Wehner -- sent to the Bonn Government a list of six hundred firms -- six hundred, my dear fellow! -- actively engaged in contraband trade.'
'And the result?'
'Six hundred informants in six hundred factories sacked,' the Count said succinctly. 'Or so Wehner said, and no doubt he knew. Business is business, and profits are profits the world over. The Communists will welcome you with open arms, provided you have what they want. Ill see to that. You will become a representative, a partner, of some big metal firm in the Ruhr.'
'An existing firm?.
'But of course. No chances and what that firm doesn't know won't hurt them.' The Count pulled a stainless steel hip flask from his pocket. 'You will join me?'
'Thank you, no.' To Reynolds' certain knowledge, the Count had drunk three-quarters of a bottle of brandy that night already, but its effects, outwardly at least, were negligible: the man's tolerance to alcohol was phenomenal. In fact, Reynolds reflected, a phenomenal character in many ways, an enigma if ever he had known one. Normally a coldly humorous man with a quick, sardonic wit, the Count's face, in its rare moments of repose, held a withdrawn remoteness, almost a sadness that was in sharp, baffling contrast to his normal self. Or, maybe his remote self was his normal self....
'Just as well.' The Count fetched a glass from the bathroom, poured a drink and swallowed it in one gulp. 'A purely medicinal precaution, you understand, and the less you have the more I have and thus the more adequately is my health safeguarded.... As I say, first thing this morning I fix your identity. Then 111 go to the Andrassy Ut and find out Where the Russian delegates to this conference are staying. The Three Crowns, probably -- staffed by our people -- but it may be elsewhere.' He brought out paper and pencil and scribbled on it for a minute. 'Here are the names and the addresses of seven or eight hotels -- it's bound to be one of these. Listed A-H, you observe. When I call you on the phone, 111 first of all address you by the wrong name. The first letter of that name will correspond to the hotel. You understand?'
Reynolds nodded.
'I'll also try to get you Jennings' room number. That will be more difficult. I'll reverse it on the phone -- in the form of some financial quotations in connection with your export business.' The Count put away his brandy flask and stood up. 'And that, I'm afraid, is about all I can do for you, Mr. Reynolds. 'The rest is up to you. I can't possibly go near any hotel Where Jennings is staying, because our own men will be there watching them, and, besides, I expect to be on duty this coming afternoon and evening until ten o'clock at least. Even if I could approach him, it would be useless. Jennings would know me for a foreigner right away, and be instantly suspicious, and, apart from that, you are the only person who has seen his wife and can bring all the facts and necessary arguments to bear.'
'You've already done more than enough,' Reynolds assured him. 'I'm alive, aren't I? And I won't leave this room till I hear from you?'
'Not a step. Well, a little sleep, then on with the uniform and my daily stint of terrorising all and sundry.' The Count smiled wryly. 'You cannot imagine, Mr. Reynolds, what it feels like to be universally beloved. Au
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