Three

INTRODUCING MR. ROBINSON

It was some six weeks later that a young man tapped discreetly on the door of a room inBloomsbury and was told to come in.

It was a small room. Behind a desk sat a fat middle-aged man slumped in a chair. He waswearing a crumpled suit, the front of which was smothered in cigar ash. The windows were closedand the atmosphere was almost unbearable.

“Well?” said the fat man testily, and speaking with half-closed eyes. “What is it now, eh?”

It was said of Colonel Pikeaway that his eyes were always just closing in sleep, or just openingafter sleep. It was also said that his name was not Pikeaway and that he was not a colonel. Butsome people will say anything!

“Edmundson, from the F.O., is here sir.”

“Oh,” said Colonel Pikeaway.

He blinked, appeared to be going to sleep again and muttered:

“Third secretary at our Embassy in Ramat at the time of the Revolution. Right?”

“That’s right, sir.”

“I suppose, then, I’d better see him,” said Colonel Pikeaway without any marked relish. Hepulled himself into a more upright position and brushed off a little of the ash from his paunch.

Mr. Edmundson was a tall fair young man, very correctly dressed with manners to match, and ageneral air of quiet disapproval.

“Colonel Pikeaway? I’m John Edmundson. They said you—er—might want to see me.”

“Did they? Well, they should know,” said Colonel Pikeaway. “Siddown,” he added.

His eyes began to close again, but before they did so, he spoke:

“You were in Ramat at the time of the Revolution?”

“Yes, I was. A nasty business.”

“I suppose it would be. You were a friend of Bob Rawlinson’s, weren’t you?”

“I know him fairly well, yes.”

“Wrong tense,” said Colonel Pikeaway. “He’s dead.”

“Yes, sir, I know. But I wasn’t sure—” he paused.

“You don’t have to take pains to be discreet here,” said Colonel Pikeaway. “We knoweverything here. Or if we don’t, we pretend we do. Rawlinson flew Ali Yusuf out of Ramat on theday of the Revolution. Plane hasn’t been heard of since. Could have landed in some inaccessibleplace, or could have crashed. Wreckage of a plane has been found in the Arolez mountains. Twobodies. News will be released to the Press tomorrow. Right?”

Edmundson admitted that it was quite right.

“We know all about things here,” said Colonel Pikeaway. “That’s what we’re for. Plane flewinto the mountain. Could have been weather conditions. Some reason to believe it was sabotage.

Delayed action bomb. We haven’t got the full reports yet. The plane crashed in a prettyinaccessible place. There was a reward offered for finding it, but these things take a long time tofilter through. Then we had to fly out experts to make an examination. All the red tape, of course.

Applications to a foreign government, permission from ministers, palm greasing—to say nothingof the local peasantry appropriating anything that might come in useful.”

He paused and looked at Edmundson.

“Very sad, the whole thing,” said Edmundson. “Prince Ali Yusuf would have made anenlightened ruler, with democratic principles.”

“That’s what probably did the poor chap in,” said Colonel Pikeaway. “But we can’t waste timein telling sad stories of the deaths of kings. We’ve been asked to make certain—inquiries. Byinterested parties. Parties, that is, to whom Her Majesty’s Government is well- disposed.” Helooked hard at the other. “Know what I mean?”

“Well, I have heard something.” Edmundson spoke reluctantly.

“You’ve heard perhaps, that nothing of value was found on the bodies, or amongst thewreckage, or as far as is known, had been pinched by the locals. Though as to that, you can nevertell with peasants. They can clam up as well as the Foreign Office itself. And what else have youheard?”

“Nothing else.”

“You haven’t heard that perhaps something of value ought to have been found? What did theysend you to me for?”

“They said you might want to ask me certain questions,” said Edmundson primly.

“If I ask you questions I shall expect answers,” Colonel Pikeaway pointed out.

“Naturally.”

“Doesn’t seem natural to you, son. Did Bob Rawlinson say anything to you before he flew outof Ramat? He was in Ali’s confidence if anyone was. Come now, let’s have it. Did he sayanything?”

“As to what, sir?”

Colonel Pikeaway stared hard at him and scratched his ear.

“Oh, all right,” he grumbled. “Hush up this and don’t say that. Overdo it in my opinion! If youdon’t know what I’m talking about, you don’t know, and there it is.”

“I think there was something—” Edmundson spoke cautiously and with reluctance. “Somethingimportant that Bob might have wanted to tell me.”

“Ah,” said Colonel Pikeaway, with the air of a man who has at last pulled the cork out of abottle. “Interesting. Let’s have what you know.”

“It’s very little, sir. Bob and I had a kind of simple code. We’d cottoned on to the fact that allthe telephones in Ramat were being tapped. Bob was in the way of hearing things at the Palace,and I sometimes had a bit of useful information to pass on to him. So if one of us rang the other upand mentioned a girl or girls, in a certain way, using the term ‘out of this world’ for her, it meantsomething was up!”

“Important information of some kind or other?”

“Yes. Bob rang me up using those terms the day the whole show started. I was to meet him atour usual rendezvous—outside one of the banks. But rioting broke out in that particular quarterand the police closed the road. I couldn’t make contact with Bob or he with me. He flew Ali outthe same afternoon.”

“I see,” said Pikeaway. “No idea where he was telephoning from?”

“No. It might have been anywhere.”

“Pity.” He paused and then threw out casually:

“Do you know Mrs. Sutcliffe?”

“You mean Bob Rawlinson’s sister? I met her out there, of course. She was there with aschoolgirl daughter. I don’t know her well.”

“Were she and Bob Rawlinson very close?”

Edmundson considered.

“No, I shouldn’t say so. She was a good deal older than he was, and rather much of the eldersister. And he didn’t much like his brother-in-law—always referred to him as a pompous ass.”

“So he is! One of our prominent industrialists—and how pompous can they get! So you don’tthink it likely that Bob Rawlinson would have confided an important secret to his sister?”

“It’s difficult to say—but no, I shouldn’t think so.”

“I shouldn’t either,” said Colonel Pikeaway.

He sighed. “Well, there we are, Mrs. Sutcliffe and her daughter are on their way home by thelong sea route. Dock at Tilbury on the Eastern Queen tomorrow.”

He was silent for a moment or two, whilst his eyes made a thoughtful survey of the young manopposite him. Then, as though having come to a decision, he held out his hand and spoke briskly.

“Very good of you to come.”

“I’m only sorry I’ve been of such little use. You’re sure there’s nothing I can do?”

“No. No. I’m afraid not.”

John Edmundson went out.

The discreet young man came back.

“Thought I might have sent him to Tilbury to break the news to the sister,” said Pikeaway.

“Friend of her brother’s—all that. But I decided against it. Inelastic type. That’s the F.O. training.

Not an opportunist. I’ll send round what’s his name.”

“Derek?”

“That’s right,” Colonel Pikeaway nodded approval. “Getting to know what I mean quite well,ain’t you?”

“I try my best, sir.”

“Trying’s not enough. You have to succeed. Send me along Ronnie first. I’ve got an assignmentfor him.”

II

Colonel Pikeaway was apparently just going off to sleep again when the young man called Ronnieentered the room. He was tall, dark, muscular, and had a gay and rather impertinent manner.

Colonel Pikeaway looked at him for a moment or two and then grinned.

“How’d you like to penetrate into a girls’ school?” he asked.

“A girls’ school?” The young man lifted his eyebrows. “That will be something new! What arethey up to? Making bombs in the chemistry class?”

“Nothing of that kind. Very superior high-class school. Meadowbank.”

“Meadowbank!” the young man whistled. “I can’t believe it!”

“Hold your impertinent tongue and listen to me. Princess Shaista, first cousin and only nearrelative of the late Prince Ali Yusuf of Ramat, goes there this next term. She’s been at school inSwitzerland up to now.”

“What do I do? Abduct her?”

“Certainly not. I think it possible she may become a focus of interest in the near future. I wantyou to keep an eye on developments. I’ll have to leave it vague. I don’t know what or who mayturn up, but if any of our more unlikeable friends seem to be interested, report it … A watchingbrief, that’s what you’ve got.”

The young man nodded.

“And how do I get in to watch? Shall I be the drawing master?”

“The visiting staff is all female.” Colonel Pikeaway looked at him in a considering manner. “Ithink I’ll have to make you a gardener.”

“A gardener?”

“Yes. I’m right in thinking you know something about gardening?”

“Yes, indeed. I ran a column on Your Garden in the Sunday Mail for a year in my youngerdays.”

“Tush!” said Colonel Pikeaway. “That’s nothing! I could do a column on gardening myselfwithout knowing a thing about it—just crib from a few luridly illustrated Nurseryman’s cataloguesand a Gardening Encyclopedia. I know all the patter. ‘Why not break away from tradition andsound a really tropical note in your border this year? Lovely Amabellis Gossiporia, and some ofthe wonderful new Chinese hybrids of Sinensis Maka foolia. Try the rich blushing beauty of aclump of Sinistra Hopaless, not very hardy but they should be all right against a west wall.’” Hebroke off and grinned. “Nothing to it! The fools buy the things and early frost sets in and killsthem and they wish they’d stuck to wallflowers and forget-me-nots! No, my boy, I mean the realstuff. Spit on your hands and use the spade, be well acquainted with the compost heap, mulchdiligently, use the Dutch hoe and every other kind of hoe, trench really deep for your sweet peas—and all the rest of the beastly business. Can you do it?”

“All these things I have done from my youth upwards!”

“Of course you have. I know your mother. Well, that’s settled.”

“Is there a job going as a gardener at Meadowbank?”

“Sure to be,” said Colonel Pikeaway. “Every garden in England is short staffed. I’ll write yousome nice testimonials. You’ll see, they’ll simply jump at you. No time to waste, summer termbegins on the 29th.”

“I garden and I keep my eyes open, is that right?”

“That’s it, and if any oversexed teenagers make passes at you, Heaven help you if you respond.

I don’t want you thrown out on your ear too soon.”

He drew a sheet of paper towards him. “What do you fancy as a name?”

“Adam would seem appropriate.”

“Last name?”

“How about Eden?”

“I’m not sure I like the way your mind is running. Adam Goodman will do very nicely. Go andwork out your past history with Jenson and then get cracking.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve nomore time for you. I don’t want to keep Mr. Robinson waiting. He ought to be here by now.”

Adam (to give him his new name) stopped as he was moving to the door.

“Mr. Robinson?” he asked curiously. “Is he coming?”

“I said so.” A buzzer went on the desk. “There he is now. Always punctual, Mr. Robinson.”

“Tell me,” said Adam curiously. “Who is he really? What’s his real name?”

“His name,” said Colonel Pikeaway, “is Mr. Robinson. That’s all I know, and that’s all anybodyknows.”

III

The man who came into the room did not look as though his name was, or could ever have been,Robinson. It might have been Demetrius, or Isaacstein, or Perenna—though not one or the other inparticular. He was not definitely Jewish, nor definitely Greek nor Portuguese nor Spanish, norSouth American. What did seem highly unlikely was that he was an Englishman called Robinson.

He was fat and well-dressed, with a yellow face, melancholy dark eyes, a broad forehead, and agenerous mouth that displayed rather over-large very white teeth. His hands were well-shaped andbeautifully kept. His voice was English with no trace of accent.

He and Colonel Pikeaway greeted each other rather in the manner of two reigning monarchs.

Politenesses were exchanged.

Then, as Mr. Robinson accepted a cigar, Colonel Pikeaway said:

“It is very good of you to offer to help us.”

Mr. Robinson lit his cigar, savoured it appreciatively, and finally spoke.

“My dear fellow. I just thought—I hear things, you know. I know a lot of people, and they tellme things. I don’t know why.”

Colonel Pikeaway did not comment on the reason why.

He said:

“I gather you’ve heard that Prince Ali Yusuf’s plane has been found?”

“Wednesday of last week,” said Mr. Robinson. “Young Rawlinson was the pilot. A tricky flight.

But the crash wasn’t due to an error on Rawlinson’s part. The plane had been tampered with—bya certain Achmed—senior mechanic. Completely trustworthy—or so Rawlinson thought. But hewasn’t. He’s got a very lucrative job with the new régime now.”

“So it was sabotage! We didn’t know that for sure. It’s a sad story.”

“Yes. That poor young man—Ali Yusuf, I mean—was ill equipped to cope with corruption andtreachery. His public school education was unwise—or at least that is my view. But we do notconcern ourselves with him now, do we? He is yesterday’s news. Nothing is so dead as a deadking. We are concerned, you in your way, I in mine, with what dead kings leave behind them.”

“Which is?”

Mr. Robinson shrugged his shoulders.

“A substantial bank balance in Geneva, a modest balance in London, considerable assets in hisown country now taken over by the glorious new régime (and a little bad feeling as to how thespoils have been divided, or so I hear!), and finally a small personal item.”

“Small?”

“These things are relative. Anyway, small in bulk. Handy to carry upon the person.”

“They weren’t on Ali Yusuf’s person, as far as we know.”

“No. Because he had handed them over to young Rawlinson.”

“Are you sure of that?” asked Pikeaway sharply.

“Well, one is never sure,” said Mr. Robinson apologetically. “In a palace there is so muchgossip. It cannot all be true. But there was a very strong rumour to that effect.”

“They weren’t on young Rawlinson’s person, either—”

“In that case,” said Mr. Robinson, “it seems as though they must have been got out of thecountry by some other means.”

“What other means? Have you any idea?”

“Rawlinson went to a café in the town after he had received the jewels. He was not seen tospeak to anyone or approach anyone whilst he was there. Then he went to the Ritz Savoy Hotelwhere his sister was staying. He went up to her room and was there for about 20 minutes. Sheherself was out. He then left the hotel and went to the Merchants Bank in Victory Square where hecashed a cheque. When he came out of the bank a disturbance was beginning. Students riotingabout something. It was some time before the square was cleared. Rawlinson then went straight tothe airstrip where, in company with Sergeant Achmed, he went over the plane.

“Ali Yusuf drove out to see the new road construction, stopped his car at the airstrip, joinedRawlinson and expressed a desire to take a short flight and see the dam and the new highwayconstruction from the air. They took off and did not return.”

“And your deductions from that?”

“My dear fellow, the same as yours. Why did Bob Rawlinson spend twenty minutes in hissister’s room when she was out and he had been told that she was not likely to return untilevening? He left her a note that would have taken him at most three minutes to scribble. What didhe do for the rest of the time?”

“You are suggesting that he concealed the jewels in some appropriate place amongst his sister’sbelongings?”

“It seems indicated, does it not? Mrs. Sutcliffe was evacuated that same day with other Britishsubjects. She was flown to Aden with her daughter. She arrives at Tilbury, I believe, tomorrow.”

Pikeaway nodded.

“Look after her,” said Mr. Robinson.

“We’re going to look after her,” said Pikeaway. “That’s all arranged.”

“If she has the jewels, she will be in danger.” He closed his eyes. “I so much dislike violence.”

“You think there is likely to be violence?”

“There are people interested. Various undesirable people—if you understand me.”

“I understand you,” said Pikeaway grimly.

“And they will, of course, double cross each other.”

Mr. Robinson shook his head. “So confusing.”

Colonel Pikeaway asked delicately: “Have you yourself any — er — special interest in thematter?”

“I represent a certain group of interests,” said Mr. Robinson. His voice was faintly reproachful.

“Some of the stones in question were supplied by my syndicate to his late highness—at a very fairand reasonable price. The group of people I represent who were interested in the recovery of thestones, would, I may venture to say, have had the approval of the late owner. I shouldn’t like tosay more. These matters are so delicate.”

“But you are definitely on the side of the angels,” Colonel Pikeaway smiled.

“Ah, angels! Angels—yes.” He paused. “Do you happen to know who occupied the rooms inthe hotel on either side of the room occupied by Mrs. Sutcliffe and her daughter?”

Colonel Pikeaway looked vague.

“Let me see now—I believe I do. On the left hand side was Se?ora Angelica de Toredo—aSpanish—er—dancer appearing at the local cabaret. Perhaps not strictly Spanish and perhaps not avery good dancer. But popular with the clientèle. On the other side was one of a group ofschoolteachers, I understand—”

Mr. Robinson beamed approvingly.

“You are always the same. I come to tell you things, but nearly always you know themalready.”

“No no.” Colonel Pikeaway made a polite disclaimer.

“Between us,” said Mr. Robinson, “we know a good deal.”

Their eyes met.

“I hope,” Mr. Robinson said rising, “that we know enough—”