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They reached agreement on the basic points by sundown and elaborated the plan through the night. Only at three in the morning was the car summoned to drive Sha
As they parted on the terrace above the waiting car and its sleepy chauffeur, they shook hands again.
“I’ll be in touch, sir,” said Sha
“And I’ll have to send my emissaries immediately,” replied the general. “But in sixty days the men will be there.”
Sha
While he was landing in Paris, Martin Thorpe was boarding the overnight sleeper train to Glasgow, Stirling, and Perth. From there he could take a co
Twenty-four hours, he thought as he drew down the blinds of his first-class sleeping compartment, blotting out the sight of the scurrying on the platform of King’s Cross station. Twenty-four hours should see it through, and they would be home and dry; and three weeks later a new director on the board, a nominee responding to the strings pulled by him and Sir James Manson. Settling himself on the bunk, his briefcase under the pillow, Martin Thorpe gazed up at the ceiling and enjoyed the feeling.
Later that Tuesday evening Sha
The two person-to-person calls he had put in came through almost together. First on the line was a certain M. Lavallon from Marseilles.
“Do you have that shipping agent yet?” asked Sha
“Yes,” said the Corsican. “It’s in Toulon. A very good one, very respectable and efficient. They have their own bonded warehouse on the harbor.”
“Spell it out,” said Sha
“Agence Maritime Duphot,” spelled Langarotti and dictated the address. “Send the consignments to the agency, clearly marked as the property of Monsieur Langarotti.”
Sha
Sha
“Fine,” Ja
“Good,” said Sha
He placed one more call, this time to a bar in Ostend. There was a fifteen-minute delay before Marc’s voice came through.
“I’m in Paris,” said Sha
“Yes,” said Marc. “I’ve been in touch. He’s prepared to meet you and discuss prices and terms.”
“Good. I’ll be in Belgium Thursday night or Friday morning. Tell him I propose Friday morning over breakfast in my room at the Holiday I
“I know it,” said Marc. “All right, I’ll put it to him and call you back.”
“Call me tomorrow between ten and eleven,” said Sha
Only then did he slip on his jacket and head for a long-awaited di
While Sha
Marc Vlaminck called Sha
“Certainly,” said Sha
“Yes, why?”
“Has this gentleman seen it yet?”
There was a pause while Vlaminck thought. “No.”
“Then don’t bring it to Brussels. Hire a car and drive yourself. Pick him up on the way. Understand?”
“Yes,” said Vlaminck, still perplexed. “Anything you say.”
Sha
The coffee and rolls were on the side table when he emerged. He placed two calls from the bedside phone, to Be
“Have you got that letter for me?” he asked Lambert.
The little crook’s voice sounded strained. “Yes. I got it yesterday. Luckily my contact was on duty on Monday, and I saw him that night. He produced the letter of introduction yesterday evening. When do you want it?”
“This afternoon,” said Sha
“All right. Have you got my fee?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it right here.”
“Then come to my place about three,” said Lambert.
Sha
Mr. Stein was engaged on the other phone when the call came, so, rather than wait, Sha
“About the meeting to launch my holding company, Tyrone Holdings,” he began.
“Ah yes, Mr. Brown,” said Stein’s voice. “Everything is in order. When would you suggest?”
“Tomorrow afternoon,” replied Sha