‘How did he react?’
‘Like the grand guy that he is. He arranged for me to be transferred from Drover’s Springs within twenty-four hours, and sent his attorney down to talk turkey to Esmée’s pa. He warned me, though, that seducing unmarried girls nearly always leads to trouble and that I’d be wiser in future to blow off steam with women who were just as eager to play as I was.’
‘That was certainly sound advice. I hope you took it.’
‘I did; although it was not all that easy to follow as long as I remained out in the wilds. Small towns never seem to have such a high percentage of good-lookers as the cities; and the few who are worth having an affaire with, even if they’re willing, tend to hide their lights under bushels. They have to, for fear of gossip. The local lads know the form, of course; but to find a willing girl friend isn’t easy for a stranger.’
‘Poor Truss.’ Fleur’s tone held a shade of mockery. ‘So you nobly resisted temptation for fear of burning your fingers again.’
‘Well, yes. The Esmée affair resulted in my reverting to the line I used to take with girls before our affaire in Corfu. I’d become scared again that one would try to hook me by saying I’d put her in the family way, or a husband would suddenly come on the scene and cite me as co-respondent.’
‘Then you can’t have felt the urge to go to bed with a girl very badly.’
‘Oh yes I did. Not as an obsession, of course, but now and then. Occasionally there were nights when I’d have given everything I possessed to have that week with you in Corfu over again.’
Colouring slightly, Fleur said, ‘Truss dear, it’s a charming compliment that you should have felt like that; but really it’s a bit embarrassing for you to tell me so. I do hope, too, that since you came out of the backwoods you have had other affaires that you can look back on just as happily.’
‘Well, to be honest, not quite. But soon after I was posted to San Francisco I had a break. She was an artists’ model named Sally: as pretty as they come and no strings attached. All she wanted was an apartment of her own, a guy to take her about and plenty of loving. We got on famously and I was real sorry when I had to leave her to go to a branch of the bank in Denver.’
‘Did you have any luck there?’
‘Not much, and Sally had been pretty demanding; so I was quite content to concentrate on my work for a while. Towards the end of my stay I got to know a call-girl who was a very decent kid, and now and then spent a night with her. But you couldn’t call it an affaire. I had another lucky break in Boston, though. She was the wife of an officer in the Navy and his ship was way off with the Sixth Fleet. In her own way she was the faithful type. She had two young children, really cared about her husband, and wouldn’t have divorced him even if I’d been so mad about her that I’d have implored her to, or have let anyone lay a finger on her as long as he was within call. But she was very highly sexed, and when he was at sea for long spells she just had to have a man: someone she liked and could trust, and I happened to fill the bill.’
‘You were lucky, then,’ Fleur remarked, ‘and I don’t think one can blame her. I’d feel the same if my husband had to leave me for months at a stretch; and all the odds are that he was having his fun in foreign ports. After Boston who was your next?’
Truss smiled. ‘That was my last post. And you can imagine what New York is like. Now I’m back in circulation I could go to bed with a different girl every night if I liked. I don’t because too much of that sort of thing would be bad for my work. But I get all the fun I want. How about yourself?’
She looked away quickly. ‘Oh, I’m in quite a different category. I’m married.’
‘Sure; but so were five out of the seven lovelies I’ve had brief affaires with in New York during the past six months.’
Fleur shrugged. ‘They couldn’t have got away with that here. In Colombo if a wife makes one false move she’s finished; and she simply wouldn’t dare take the slightest risk because she’s spied on the whole time by a houseful of native servants.’
‘That’s just too bad. D’you mean you’ve had no fun on the side at all, then?’
‘Certainly not,’ she replied a shade sharply. ‘And I’ve no desire to.’
‘Oh come, honey,’ Truss grinned. ‘Leopards don’t change their spots. After all you told me about yourself in Corfu I just can’t believe you would have kept to the straight and narrow all this time if you’d seen a chance to do otherwise with a fellow you had a yen for.’
‘You’re wrong; entirely wrong. No woman could have a better husband than Douglas, and I’m devoted to him.’
‘What, after two and a half years? You’re kidding. At least I hope you are.’ Truss leaned right forward and stretched out a hand to lay it on hers. ‘You’re lovelier than ever. And you’re the attraction that made me jump at the chance of coming to Ceylon. I was counting on we two getting together again.’
Suddenly Fleur’s eyes narrowed, she drew her hand from under his and smacked him with it sharply across the face. Then her voice came, half choked with indignation. ‘So that’s how you thought of me, eh? As someone who’d be only too willing to deceive her husband for you and become your mistress for a week or two, then be waved a cheerful good-bye when you flew off to scavenge Singapore and Hong Kong for other likely bitches to amuse you.’
A bright red patch showed on his cheek, but he only blinked and did not draw back. After a moment he said quietly, ‘That’s just about it. Time was when I would have liked to have you for keeps, but you didn’t even wait till I was leaving to wave me good-bye. And you’d made it clear from the beginning that you had no scruples about going to bed with anyone you took a fancy to. Well, that goes for me, too, these days. How was I to know that you were still nuts about Douglas? I’ve never yet tried to get a woman who was still in love with her husband. But it isn’t normal for a girl who’s kicked up her heels with a score of men before she was married to remain faithful to one for two and a half years afterwards. As I see it I was quite justified in hoping that we might again have some good times together with no hard thoughts about one another afterwards. But I was wrong. All right. I apologise.’
The anger had drained from Fleur’s face, and she said, ‘I’m sorry, Truss. I shouldn’t have done that. It was … well, I’ve been awfully wrought up tonight about what may have happened to Greyeyes. And … and nobody has made a pass at me for years. No Sinhalese would think of doing so, out of respect for Douglas, and although some of the men among the white residents might like to, they never get a chance. You see, if the servants hadn’t already gone to bed when Simon arrived here, our head boy would still be about. For me to be alone with a man at this hour of night is something quite exceptional.’
He nodded. ‘Let’s forget it.’ Then he added on a lighter note, ‘It’s quite an amusing situation, though. In Corfu you were the scarlet woman who seduced the innocent lad, and here I’ve taken the role of the unprincipled lecher trying to seduce the chaste wife. It would make a hit play if only we could think of a good third act.’
‘You could kidnap me,’ she suggested, welcoming the lighter lead. ‘We’d have a terrific scene with me kneeling on the ground clinging to your knees begging you to spare my honour. But you’d refuse just the same. Then Douglas would appear at the critical moment and shoot us both.’
‘Censor wouldn’t pass it, even in these days. At least, he’d insist on our being shot before we got any fun out of the rape. But, talking of kidnapping, I wish to God we did know what was happening to Greyeyes.’
For some minutes they indulged in further futile speculations, then Fleur mixed them fresh drinks and, when they had settled down again, Truss asked, ‘Tell me, just what sort of a life do you lead here in Ceylon?’
Fleur drew on her cigarette. ‘It’s not very exciting but it is pleasant. Running the house is not much trouble. Even the best of native servants are not very dependable, and however well trained are apt to forget a well-established drill at times; so I ha
ve to check up on them quite a bit, especially before parties, but there’s no question of my ever having to do anything for myself. Even in the garden, where I spend quite a lot of time, I’m never allowed to soil my hands; only to say what is to go in here or there. Then I’m on several charity committees and I spend four mornings a week at the Birth Control Clinic.’
Truss nodded. ‘I recall that you were always set on going in for Family Planning.’
‘Yes; and I’m sure we do a lot of good. Douglas is terrifically anti the present Government, but at least they are behind us in that; and the women are unbelievably grateful at being saved from having eight or ten pregnancies before they are thirty. Then during the great heats we go up to the hills. At least I do, and Douglas comes up for long week-ends. We have a very nice bungalow at Nuwara Eliya. We must motor up there one day so that you can see it.’
‘I’d love that.’
‘Then there is the social round. We have many friends, both Sinhalese and Europeans. Having lots of servants makes throwing parties easy, both for them and us. And between times Colombo has a lot to offer for anyone with leisure. There are dances at the Galle Face every Saturday, the bathing at Mount Lavinia is as good as you would get in the South of France, I play quite a lot of tennis and recently I’ve taken up golf. So you see I’ve hardly a free moment.’
As she rattled it all off Truss listened attentively. He had not Simon’s subtle perception to suggest to him that Fleur was drawing too bright a picture for it to be quite true, and when she had done he said:
‘Well, Fleur, seems to me you’re to be envied out here in your lovely tropical backwater. At twenty-six, or -seven—which you must be now—half the young women in the States are worrying themselves silly about how long their marriage is going to last or, if they get their divorce, how much alimony they’ll be able to get their claws on; or are taking to drink or drugs because the feller they have a yen for has left them flat and is sleeping with their best friend. I tell you, it’s a jungle; and some of the animals in it are more vicious by a long sight than those in the forests of Ceylon.’
‘Yes, I’m lucky,’ Fleur agreed, ‘very lucky. After all, contentment is what really matters in life, and I have it here. Enough to do to keep me occupied but never so much that it becomes a wearisome chore. I’ve friends, my gardens here and up at Nuwara Eliya, a heavenly climate, ample money to buy anything in reason that I want, and a devoted, intelligent husband. I’ve not the least desire ever to see Europe again.’
For half an hour longer she talked on in the same strain, in all else giving Truss to understand that she had not a worry in the world. Then the telephone rang.
It was Douglas, speaking from the Galle Face, reporting that the Duke was safe, that all was well and that he would be home within a quarter of an hour.
When Truss had heard the good news, he said, ‘Thank God for that. Now you’ll forgive me if I don’t stay on to say how-do to Douglas. I’ve had one hell of a long day. We made an early start from Trinco’, but owing to a temporary breakdown we were held up for some hours; so it was after eleven before we got in, and now it’s well into the small hours of the morning.’
‘Of course,’ Fleur agreed. ‘It was sweet of you to come and keep me company during this anxious time. You get off now. I’ll ring you tomorrow about a date for lunch, and I do want to see as much as possible of you while you’re here.’
He gave her a cheerful wave, cried, ‘Thanks a lot. I’ll be seeing you,’ and went through the wire gauze doors. The car that had brought him was parked a little way off with its coloured driver asleep at the wheel. Truss walked down the steps from the verandah. He had only just set foot on the drive when there came a flurry of skirts and a cry behind him. As he turned Fleur flung herself into his arms.
‘Oh, Truss! Truss,’ she sobbed. ‘What I told you is all lies. Lies, lies, lies! I’m not happy here. I might as well be in prison. I hate every moment of it. If I don’t get away from here I shall go mad. I was crazy to marry Douglas! Crazy! For God’s sake help me to get free or I’ll have ruined my whole life.’
Truss was nearly a foot taller than Fleur. As he held her trembling body to him he looked up at the stars, made a slightly comical grimace and, patting her back, murmured, ‘Don’t take on so, honey. It may not be too late to pick up the pieces.’
16
The Duke Refuses to Compromise
At lunchtime on the Monday Simon telephoned the others to say that de Richleau had woken in fair shape but would benefit from another sleep during the afternoon; so he proposed that they should not meet until six o’clock. At that hour they assembled in his private sitting room and he joined them wearing a dressing gown. While they were helping themselves to drinks their conversation was naturally of the previous night’s events and the extremely narrow escape from death that the Duke had had. After some minutes he called for their attention, and said:
‘I owe you all my warmest thanks. Had you not come to my rescue it is pretty certain that on his return Lalita would have done me in, and quite certain that I would not have at last secured the whole of the property left me by my late cousin.’
Simon tittered. ‘I was scared stiff for you; but I take my hat off at the way you dug in your toes about the jewels, and fooled those crooks by not putting your usual signature to the contract.’
‘That would not have invalidated it if the witnesses had actually seen you write your name,’ Douglas commented, ‘and Lalita may still get them to swear that they did.’
‘Exactly,’ smiled the Duke. ‘Hence my request that you should draw up an ante-dated Deed of Gift by which I make over Olenevka to Fleur.’
‘I have the deed here.’ Douglas took a paper from his briefcase, then with a worried look continued, ‘I must tell you frankly, though, that I am most opposed to all this; and if it were not for my personal attachment to you, sir, I’d have no hand in it. I realise, of course, that we are combating a crook and endeavouring to protect property which is yours by right, but that does not justify putting a false date to a legal document; and if it ever comes out, you, myself and whoever witnesses it will all be in serious trouble.’
‘Unless what we propose to do is given away by one of us—which is unthinkable—it cannot possibly come out. But I appreciate your professional scruples as a lawyer, Douglas, and if you wish to withdraw …’
‘No, sir. You are in no position to get this done by any other solicitor. And, in view of your generous intention towards Fleur, I could not possibly refuse to carry out your wishes. Even so, I beg you most earnestly to reconsider the situation. If Lalita does bring false witnesses to swear that you signed the contract, and that you did so after making the Deed of Gift, you will be liable to prosecution on the grounds that you endeavoured to obtain the jewels under false pretences.’
‘I agree your premises. But last night Lalita admitted that if he brought any charges against me he could not avoid facing one himself of conspiracy with intent to murder. That still holds good. He dare not make any move which will bring this affair into the open.’
‘Yet the fact remains that by invalidating the contract and retaining possession of the jewels you are guilty of a felony. It is that which worries me so greatly. If by some unhappy chance it emerged that you had them you would certainly receive a prison sentence.’
‘I have taken precautions that it will not emerge.’
‘Even so, I beg you to allow Lalita’s contract to stand. Letting him have Olenevka will give you a legal title to them.’
‘No. My mind is made up,’ the Duke replied stubbornly. ‘I’ve got the best of that murderous rogue and I’ll not let him have any part of my inheritance. Come, give me the Deed of Gift.’
With an unhappy smile Douglas gave him the document. He signed it, Simon and Rex witnessed it, then it was handed back.
Fleur, who had accompanied her husband to the conference, kissed the Duke lovingly and said, ‘Dearest Greyeyes, I can never thank you enough for this m
agnificent present. But what Douglas has said worries me a lot; and if there is any trouble, at least you know that you have only to say that Olenevka must after all go to Lalita and I’ll make it over to him at once.’
He patted her cheek. ‘Thank you, my child. I had always intended that Olenevka, or the money from its sale, should go to you. And there will be no trouble. Lalita is far too scared for himself to make any.’
‘In that I’m afraid you are wrong,’ Douglas remarked despondently. ‘I’m not thinking now of the contract or the jewels. But when Lalita discovers that he has been deprived of both he is going to be wild with rage. You may be sure that he will do his damnedest to get his own back on us in some way or other.’
‘How?’ asked Rex. ‘What do you figure he could do?’
‘It’s difficult to say, but as a senior officer in the Security Service he has plenty of thugs who will take their orders from him and ask no questions. It’s quite possible that he might arrange for an attack to be made on the Duke, and afterwards say he had been mistaken for some dangerous criminal.’
‘Don’t like the sound of that,’ Simon said in a worried voice. ‘Especially as Rex and I will be away from Colombo for quite a while on our trip to the Far East.’
‘When do you go, and for how long will you be away?’ asked de Richleau.
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