place?”
“About a year ago, as I understand it.”
The custodian stopped writing and looked at James Derek. “A year ago?”
“Yes.,’
“And this American chap wants to confront embassy personnel now? Over
here?”
“That’s right.”
“He’s on the wrong side of the Atlantic. All American embassy personnel
were transferred four months ago. There’s no one there now-not even a
secretary-who was in London a year ago.”
“That’s very strange,” said Derek quietly.
“I’d say your American friend has a rather poor connection with his State
Department.”
220
“Which means he’s lying.”
“Which means he is.”
Janet and Matthew, laughing, got off on the seventh floor and started down
the corridor toward ELizabeth’s suite. The length of their walk was
approximately one hundred feet and they stopped four times to embrace and
exchange kisses.
The girl took a key out of her purse and handed it to the field accountant.
He inserted it and simultaneously turned the knob before making any lateral
motion with the key. The door opened and in a split second the field
accountant was more sober than drunk.
He practically fell into the room.
Elizabeth Scarlatti was sitting on the Victorian couZh in the dim light
emanating from the single lamp. She did not move other than to look up at
Canfield and her daughter-in-law.
“I heard you in the hallway.”
“I told you to lock these doorsl”
“I’m sorry, I forgot”
“The bell you didl I waited until I heard the latch and the bold”
“I ordered some coffee from room service.”
“Where’s the tray?”
“In my bedroom which I presume to be private.”
“Don’t you believe itl” The field accountant ran toward the bedroom door.
“I apologize againl I cafled to have it taken away. I’m quite confused.
Forgive me.”
“Why? What’s the matter?”
Elizabeth Scarlatti thought quickly and looked at her daughter-in-law as
she spoke. “I had a most distressing telephone call. A business matter
completely unrelated to you. It entails a great deal of money and I must
make a decision before the British exchange opens.” She looked at the field
accountant.
“May I ask what’s so important that you don’t follow my instructions?”
“Several million dollars. Perhaps you’d care to help me. Should the
Scarlatti Industries conclude the purchase
221
of the remaining convertible debentures in Sheffield Cutlery and by
exercising the coaversions gain control of the compaany or not?”
Still uncertain, the field accountant asked, “Why is that so …
distressing?”
“Because the company constantly loses money.”
“Then you don’t buy. That shouldn’t keep you up all night.”
The old woman eyed him coldly. “Sheffield Cutlery is one of the oldest,
finest firms in England. Their product is superb. The problem is neither
management nor labor conditions but a heavy influx of Japanese imitations.
The question is, Will the purchasing public learn in time to reverse the
trend?”
Elizabeth Sycarlatti rose from the couch and went into her bedroom, closing
the door behind her. The field accountant turned to Janet Scarlett. “Does
she do this sort of thing all the time? Doesn’t she have advisers?”
But Janet was still staring at the bedroom door. She took off her wrap and
approached the field accountant. She spoke quietly. “She’s not telling the
truth.”
“How do you know?”
“The way she looked at me when she was talking to you. She was trying to
tell me something.”
“Like what?”
The girl shrugged impatiently and continued in a hushed whisper. “Oh, I
don’t know, but you know what I mean. You’re with a group’of people, and
you start to tell a whopper or exaggerate something, and while you do, you
look at your husband or a friend who knows better … and they know they
shouldn’t correct you….
“Was she lying about that company she spoke of?”
“Oh, no. That’s the truth. Chancellor Drews been trying to persuade her to
buy that firm for months.”
“How do you know?”
“She’s already turned it down.”
“Then why did she lie?”
As Canheld started to sit down, his attention was drawn to the linen
antimacassar on the back of the chair. At first be dismissed it and then he
looked again. The material was crumpled as if it had been mangled or
bunched together. It was out of place in an immaculate suite. He looked
closer. There were breaks in the threads
222
and the imprint of fingertips was unmistakable. Whoever had gripped the
chair had done so with considerable force.
“What is it, Matthew?”
“Nothing. Get me a drink, will you?”
“Of course, darling.” She went to the dry bar as Canfield walked around the
chair in front of the french w& dow. For no particular reason, he pulled
apart the curtains and inspected the window itself. He turned the latch
-and pulled the left side open. He saw what he had begun to look for. The
wood around the clasp was scratched. On the sill he could see where the
paint had been discolored by the impression of a heavy coarse object,
probably a rubber-soled boot or a crepe-soled shoe. Not leather; there were
no scratches on the enamel. He opened the right side and looked out. Below
were six stories straight down; above two floors to what he recalled was an
acutely slanting roof. He pushed the window shut and locked it.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“We’ve had a visitor. An uninvited guest, you might
It
say.
The girl stood absolutely still. “Oh, my God!”
“Don’t be frightened. Your mother-in-law wouldn’t do anything foolish.
Believe that.”
“I’m -trying to. What are we going to do?”
“Find out who it was. Now get hold of yourself. I’ll need you.”
“Why didn’t she say something?”
“I don’t know, but you may be able to find out.”
“How?~’
“romorrow morning she’ll probably bring up the Sheffield business. If she
does, tell her you remember she refused to buy it for Chancellor. She’ll
have to give you an explanation of some kind.”
“If Mother Scarlatti doesn’t want to talk, she just won’t. I know.”
“Then don’t press it. But she’ll have to say something.”
Although it was nearly three o’clock, the lobby had a flow of stragglers
from late parties. They were mostly in evening dress, a great many were
unbalanced and giggling, all were happily tired.
223
Canfield went to the desk clerk and spoke in a gentle, folksy tone. “Say,
fella, I’ve got a little problem.”
“Yes, sir. May we be of service?”
“Well, it’s a bit touchy. . . . I’m traveling with Madame Elizabeth
Scarlatti and her daughter ……
“Oh, yes indeed. Mr…. Canfield, isn’t it?”
“Sure. Well, the old girl’s getting on, you know, and the people above her
keep pretty late hours.”
The clerk, who knew the legend of the Scarlatti wealth, was abject in
apology. “I’m dreadfully sorry, Mr. Canfield. I’ll go up myself at once.
This is most embarrassing.”
“Oh, no, please, everything’s quiet now.”
“Well, I can assure you it won’t happen again. They must be loud, indeed.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the Savoy is the soundest of structures.”
“Well, I guess they keep the windows open, but, please, don’t say anything.
She’d be pretty sore at me if she thought I talked to you about it.
“I don’t understand, sir.”
“Just tell me who they are and I’ll talk to them myself. You know,
friendly-like, over a drink.”
The clerk couldn’t have been happier with the Arnerican’s solution. “Well,
if you insist, sir. . . . In eight west one is the Viscount and Viscountess
Roxbury, charming couple and quite elderly, I believe. Most unusual. How-
ever, they could be entertaining.”
‘Tilho’s above them?”
“Above them, Mr. Canfield? I don’t think…”
“Just tell me, please.”
“Well in nine west one is The clerk turned the
page- ~’Ifs not occupied, sir.”
“Not occupied? That’s unusual for this time of year, isn’t it?”
“I should say unavailable, sir. Nine west one has been leased for the month
for business conferences.”
“You mean no one stays there at nightr’
“Oh, they’re certainly entitled to but that hasn’t been the case.,,
“Who leased it?”
“The firm is Bertholde et Fils.”
224
CHAPTER 29
The telephone beside James Derek!s bed rang harshly, waking him.
“It’s Canfield. I need help and it can’t wait.”
‘That may possible be only your judgment. What is ItT’ “Scarlatti’s suite
was broken into.”
“Whatl What does the hotel say?”
“Mey don’t know about it.”
“I do think you sbould tell them.”
“It’s not that simple. She woet admit it.”
“She’s your problem. Why call mer’
“I think she’s frightened…. It was a second-story.”
“My dear fellow, her rooms are on the seventh floorl You7re too fantasticl
Or do the nasty men fly by themselvesr,
The American paused just long enough to let the Englishman know he waset
amused. “rhey figured she wouldn’t open the door, which, in itself, is
intereatin& Whoever it was, was lowered from one of the rooms above and
used a blade. Did you learn anything about Bertholde?”