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"I should like you to continue that arrangement," said Da
De Coubertin extracted a slim file from his briefcase, removed a single sheet of paper and said, pointing to a dotted line, "If you sign here, Sir Nicholas, I can assure you that everything will be set up and administered to your satisfaction. All I will need to know is to which bank we should make the monthly transfer."
"Coutts and Co. in the Strand," said Da
"Just like your grandfather," said the chairman.
"How long will it take to get to Cambridge?" Da
"Aboot an hour and a half. So we ought tae be leaving fairly soon, boss."
"Fine," said Da
"Molly's already done that," said Big Al. "I put it in the boot of the car."
The Friday evening traffic was heavy, and it wasn't until they joined the M11 that Big Al managed to push the speedometer above thirty miles an hour. He drove into King's Parade only minutes before the curtain was due to rise.
Da
Lawrence Davenport. Although Da
Big Al brought the car to a halt outside the theater. "What time will ye be gon' back tae London, boss?"
"I haven't decided yet," said Da
He picked up his ticket from the box office, handed over three pounds in exchange for a program, and followed a group of fellow latecomers into the stalls. Once he'd found his seat, he began to turn the pages of the program. He'd meant to read the play before this evening, but it had remained on his desk unopened while he tried to keep up with Milton Friedman.
Da
When the curtain rose, Da
During the interval, Da
"What's your name?" he demanded, checking his clipboard.
"Nicholas Moncrieff."
"Ah, yes. She's expecting you. Dressing room seven, first floor."
Da
"Come in," said a voice he remembered.
He opened the door to find Katie sitting in front of a mirror wearing only a black bra and panties. She was removing her stage makeup.
"Shall I wait outside?" he asked.
"Don't be silly, darling, I've got nothing new to show you, and in any case, I was hoping to arouse a few memories," she added, turning to face him.
She stood up and stepped into a black dress, which strangely made her look even more desirable. "You were wonderful," he said lamely.
"Are you sure, darling?" she asked looking at him more closely. "You don't sound altogether convinced."
"Oh, yes," Da
Katie stared at him. "Something's wrong."
"I have to get back to London. I have some urgent business."
"On a Friday night? Oh, come on, Nick, you can do better than that."
"It's just that-"
"It's another woman, isn't it?"
"Yes," admitted Da
"Then why did you bother to come in the first place?" she said angrily, turning her back on him.
"I'm sorry. I'm very sorry."
"Don't bother to apologize, Nick. You couldn't have made it more obvious that I'm a woman of no importance."
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
"SORRY, BOSS, BUT I thought ye said no before midnight," said Big Al, quickly finishing his hamburger.
"I changed my mind."
"I thought that was a lady's prerogative?"
"So did she," said Da
By the time they reached the M11 fifteen minutes later, Da
The light changed, and they sped through green light after green light, as if someone else knew that Da
He opened his eyes, and wished he'd kept them closed. "It can't be possible," he said. "Pull over, Al."
Big Al brought the car to a halt, and looked around to make sure the boss was all right. Da
"Wait here," said Da
Da
"Let's get out of here," he said without explanation.
Da
A plan began to form in his mind, and by Sunday evening it was nearly in place. Every detail would have to be followed to the letter. One mistake and all three of them would work out exactly what he was up to. But the bit-part players, the understudies, had to be in their positions long before the three lead actors could be allowed to walk onto the stage.
When Da
"I will need to move a small amount of money sometime today, and very quickly," he said.