Whiff Of Money

Von Goltz said, 'You will write a letter to your bank, Mr Rosnold, telling them to give the films to the bearer of the letter.' He pointed to a desk standing in a corner of the room. 'You will find paper and envelopes there. When my messenger returns from Paris with the films, you three will be free to leave here.'

Rosnold hesitated, then got up and went to the desk. He wrote rapidly, addressed the envelope and then gave the letter to von Goltz to read.

'Excellent. Thank you for your co-operation.' Von Goltz got to his feet. 'In two days you will be free to go. In the meantime, please amuse yourselves. I would not advise you to leave the terrace. The dogs are extremely dangerous.

However, there is a swimming-pool at the back terrace you may use. There is a billiards room. Make yourselves at home. I will see you all again for dinner. If there is anything you want, please ask Fritz.'

He left them, carrying the letter, his smile showing his satisfaction.

Girland got to his feet.

'After that lunch, I think I need a cap,' he said. He looked at Gilly. 'Maybe we'll meet in a couple of hours at the swimming-pool.'

He walked into the hall where the servants stood watching him. He stared at them and they stared woodenly back,.then whistling softly under his breath, he climbed the stairs to his room.

* * *

At 16.00 hrs. Girland came from his room wearing a pair of swimming trunks and carrying a towel over his shoulder.

Fritz was waiting in the corridor. He bowed to Girland and led the way down to the swimming-pool.

The heated pool was at the rear of the Schioss and so positioned that it caught the afternoon sun. It was some twenty metres long with a high dive board and around it were set out tables, lounging chairs, li-los and sun umbrellas.

Girland dived in and swam the length, then turning on his back, he floated in the warm, blue water, staring up at the sunlit sky. He hadn't been in the water for more than a few minutes when Gilly appeared, wearing a white bikini. She took a racing dive into the water and swam past him with a showy, fast crawl.

Girland watched her as she spun around, kicked off against the side of the bath and made for the other end. She swam well: almost professionally. When she reached the far end, she hoisted herself out of the pool and sat on the edge, her feet in the water.

With a slow, lazy crawl stroke, Girland swam towards her. Reaching her, he trod water, looking up at her.

'Got over your temper?' he asked with a smile.

'Oh, stop it!' she said sharply. 'It isn't funny! What is going to happen to us?'

He caught hold of her ankles and hauled her into the water. She splashed down beside him. His hand supported her, keeping her head above water.

'We're being watched,' he told her. 'There is a man on the second floor right window watching us.'

Gilly swam around the pool and then rejoined Girland.

'Who is it?'

'Your guess is as good as mine. Let's sunbathe. Keep your voice down, and don't get excited. Remember you are being watched.'

They hauled themselves out of the pool and stretched out on li-los.

Fat Fritz appeared with cigarettes and a lighter. He asked what they would like to drink. Gilly shook her head, but they took cigarettes.

Girland waves Fritz away. When he had left the terrace, Girland said, 'I hope you now realise the spot we're in?'

Gilly lit the cigarette and half-turned on her side to look at him.

'You puzzle me... just where do you come in on all this?'

'Your father hired me to get your films.' Girland spoke softly. He was lying on his back, staring up at the blue sky.

'What defeats me is how a girl like you could have made such films.'

Are you telling me you are working for my father?' Gilly half sat up, then controlling herself, she relaxed back on the li-lo.

'That's what I'm telling you. I work for anyone who pays me,' Girland said. 'I don't like your father. I don't like you. This is a job... simple as that.'

'You don't like meV Gilly glared at him. 'You didn't dislike me last night!'

'When a woman walks into my bedroom and throws herself at me - especially when she is as well put together as you are -1 take what she offers,' Girland said. 'But that doesn't mean I like her or think anything of her.'

'Oh! Just why don't you like me?'

'Because you are a blackmailer.' Girland released smoke down his nostrils, eyeing the burning end of his cigarette.

'Blackmailers are never my kind of people.'

Gilly lay still, her hands on her breasts. Her face had lost colour and her mouth was now a thin, hard line.

'All right. . . I'm a blackmailer. How else could I stop my father becoming President? I don't give a damn about myself...

I never have, but I am determined he isn't going to be President. I used the only weapon I had to stop him.'

Girland turned his head to study her.

'Tell me why you want to stop him?'

'I'll tell you... because he is unfit for high office. Because he is weak, vain and stupid. Because he and my mother only think of themselves and seeing themselves with power.'