The Schirmer Inheritance

“I asked where she’s being taken.”

Arthur was standing behind him still. “I wouldn’t try getting tough, Mr. Carey,” he advised. “Don’t forget, you brought her here.”

The Sergeant was examining the passport. “Born in Belgrade,” he said. “Slav.” He shut the passport with a snap. “And now we will talk a little.”

George waited. The Sergeant’s eyes rested on his.

“How did you find out, Mr. Carey?”

George hesitated.

“Talk fast, chum.”

“The truck the Corporal brought us up in-it had slots for false number-plates and the plates were lying inside on the floor of the truck. They were the same numbers as those mentioned in the Salonika papers.”

Arthur swore.

The Sergeant nodded curtly. “So! You knew this last night?”

“Yes.”

“But you did not go to the police today?”

“What I did was to cable in code to my office to find out what the extradition treaty between America and Greece says about armed bank robbery.”

“Please?”

Arthur explained in Greek.

The Sergeant nodded. “That was good. Did she know you do this?”

“Yes.”

“Then why does she tell Chrysantos?”

“She doesn’t like Germans.”

“Ah, so?”

George looked down pointedly at the Sergeant’s hands. “I understand her feelings.”

“Easy, chum.”

The Sergeant smiled enigmatically. “You understand her feelings? I do not think so.”

The sentry came in, gave the Sergeant a key with a word of explanation, and went out again.

The Sergeant put the key in his pocket and poured himself a glass of plum brandy. “And now,” he said, “we must think what is to be done. Your little friend is safely in a room upstairs. I think we must ask you also to stay, Mr. Carey. It is not that I do not trust you but that, at the moment, because you do not understand, you are feeling that you would like to destroy the Corporal and me. In two days, perhaps, when the Corporal and I have finished arranging our business, you may go.”

“Do you intend to keep me here by force?”

“Only if you are not wise and do not wish to stay.”

“Aren’t you forgetting why I came here?”

“No. I will give you my decision in two days, Mr. Carey. Until then, you stay.”

“Supposing I told you that unless Miss Kolin and I are released immediately you’ll have as much chance of inheriting that estate as that sentry outside.”

“Your office in America will be very sad. Arthur explained to me.”

George felt himself reddening. “Does it occur to you that, trail or no trail, Colonel Chrysantos won’t take very long to find this place now? In two or three hours he may have you surrounded by Greek troops.”

Arthur laughed. The Sergeant smiled grimly.

“If that is so, Mr. Carey, Chrysantos will be in trouble with his government. But you need not worry. If this bad Colonel comes, we will protect you. A glass of wine? No? Brandy? No? Then, since you are tired, the Corporal will show you where you can sleep. Good night.” He nodded dismissal and began to go through the photostats again, putting those that interested him specially into a separate pile.

“This way, chum.”

“Just a moment. What about Miss Kolin, Sergeant?”

The Sergeant did not look up. “You do not have to worry about her, Mr. Carey. Good night.”

Arthur led the way; George followed him; the sentry brought up the rear. They went upstairs to a derelict room with a straw mattress on the floorboards. There was also a bucket. The sentry brought in an oil lamp.

“It’s only for a couple of nights, Mr. Carey,” said Arthur-the hotel receptionist apologizing to a valued client who has arrived unexpectedly. “You’ll find the palliasse fairly clean. The Sarge is very keen on hygiene.”

“Where’s Miss Kolin?”

“Next room.” He jerked his thumb. “But don’t you worry about her. It’s a better room than this.”

“What did the Sergeant mean about Chrysantos getting into trouble with the government?”

“If he tried to surround us? Well, the Greek frontier’s nearly a kilometre away. We’re on Yugoslav territory. I’d have thought you’d have guessed.”

George digested this disconcerting news while Arthur adjusted the lamp wick.

“What about the frontier patrols?”

Arthur hung the lamp on a hook jutting out from the wall. “You want to know too much, chum.” He went to the door. “No lock on this door, but, just in case you’re thinking of sleepwalking, there’s a wide-awake sentry here on the landing, and he’s trigger-happy. Get the idea?”

“I get it.”

“I’ll give you a call when it’s time for breakfast. Pleasant dreams.”

About an hour had gone by when George heard the Sergeant come upstairs and say something to the sentry.

The sentry replied briefly. A moment or two later George heard the sound of a key being inserted in the door of the next room-the room Arthur had said was Miss Kolin’s.

With some idea of protecting her, George got up quickly from the mattress on which he had been lying and went to the door. He did not open it immediately. He heard Miss Kolin’s voice and the Sergeant’s. There was a pause, then the sound of the door being shut. The key turned in the lock once more.