Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie [92]
‘Thank you,’ said Anthony. ‘I don’t mind if I do.’
He helped himself.
‘It’s about this Herzoslovakian business,’ continued Anthony as he accepted a match. He noted the momentary flickering of the other’s steady gaze. ‘The murder of Prince Michael must have rather upset the applecart.’
Mr Isaacstein raised one eyebrow, murmured. ‘Ah?’ interrogatively and transferred his gaze to the ceiling.
‘Oil,’ said Anthony, thoughtfully surveying the polished surface of the desk. ‘Wonderful thing, oil.’
He felt the slight start the financier gave.
‘Do you mind coming to the point, Mr Cade?’
‘Not at all. I imagine, Mr Isaacstein, that if those oil concessions are granted to another company you won’t be exactly pleased about it?’
‘What’s the proposition?’ asked the other, looking straight at him.
‘A suitable claimant to the throne, full of pro-British sympathies.’
‘Where have you got him?’
‘That’s my business.’
Isaacstein acknowledged the retort by a slight smile, his glance had grown hard and keen.
‘The genuine article? I can’t stand for any funny business?’
‘The absolute genuine article.’
‘Straight?’
‘Straight.’
‘I’ll take your word for it.’
‘You don’t seem to take much convincing?’ said Anthony, looking curiously at him.
Herman Isaacstein smiled.
‘I shouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t learnt to know whether a man is speaking the truth or not,’ he replied simply. What terms do you want?’
‘The same loan, on the same conditions, that you offered to Prince Michael.’
‘What about yourself?’
‘For the moment, nothing, except that I want you to come down to Chimneys tonight.’
‘No,’ said Isaacstein, with some decision. ‘I can’t do that.’
‘Why?’
‘Dining out–rather an important dinner.’
‘All the same, I’m afraid you’ll have to cut it out–for your own sake.’
‘What do you mean?’
Anthony looked at him for a full minute before he said slowly:
‘Do you know that they’ve found the revolver, the one Michael was shot with? Do you know where they found it? In your suitcase.’
‘What?’
Isaacstein almost leapt from his chair. His face was frenzied.
‘What are you saying? What do you mean?’
‘I’ll tell you.’
Very obligingly, Anthony narrated the occurrences in connexion with the finding of the revolver. As he spoke the other’s face assumed a greyish tinge of absolute terror.
‘But it’s false,’ he screamed out as Anthony finished. ‘I never put it there. I know nothing about it. It is a plot.’
‘Don’t excite yourself,’ said Anthony soothingly. ‘If that’s the case you’ll easily be able to prove it.’
‘Prove it? How can I prove it?’
‘If I were you,’ said Anthony gently, ‘I’d come to Chimneys tonight.’
Isaacstein looked at him doubtfully.
‘You advise it?’
Anthony leant forward and whispered to him. The financier fell back in amazement, staring at him.
‘You actually mean–’
‘Come and see,’ said Anthony.
Chapter 27
The 13th of October (contd)
The clock in the Council Chamber struck nine.
‘Well,’ said Lord Caterham, with a deep sigh. ‘Here they all are, just like little Bo-Peep’s flock, back again and wagging their tails behind them.’
He looked sadly round the room.
‘Organ grinder complete with monkey,’ he murmured, fixing the Baron with his eye. ‘Nosy Parker of Throgmorton Street–’
‘I think you’re rather unkind to the Baron,’ protested Bundle, to whom these confidences were being poured out. ‘He told me that he considered you the perfect example of English hospitality among the haute noblesse.’
‘I dare say,’ said Lord Caterham. ‘He’s always saying things like that. It makes him most fatiguing to talk to. But I can tell you I’m not nearly as much of the hospitable English gentleman as I was. As soon as I can I shall let Chimneys to an enterprising American, and go and live in an hotel. There, if anyone worries you, you can just ask for your bill and go.’
‘Cheer up,’ said Bundle. ‘We seem to have lost Mr Fish for good.’
‘I always found him rather amusing,’ said Lord Caterham, who was in a contradictory temper. ‘It’s that precious young man of yours who has let me in for this. Why should I have this board meeting