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that。 For reasons I won't explain until I get some sort of guarantee of help； he has a deep and bitter grudge against me。 He also happens…just coincidentally； of course…to be one of the world's top experts； if not the very top； on the use of high explosives。
〃After the meeting this troubleshooter called aside the Venezuelan and Soviet delegates and asked for naval cooperation。 This he was guaranteed。'* Lord Worth looked at the pany with a singular lack of enthusiasm。 〃Now perhaps you people will believe me。
〃I would add that this man so hates me that he would probably do the job for nothing。 However； he has asked for…and got…a fee of a million dollars。 He also asked for…and got… ten million dollars' 'operating expenses。' What does ten million dollars mean to you…except the unlimited use of violence？〃
〃Preposterous！ Incredible！〃 The Secretary shook his head。 〃It has； of course； to be true。 You are singularly well…informed； Lord Worth。 You would appear to have an intelligence service to rival our own。〃
〃Better。 I pay them more。 This oil business is a jungle and it's a case of survival of the most devious。〃
〃Industrial espionage？〃
〃Most certainly not。〃 It was just possible that Lord Worth actually believed this。
〃This friend who may be ing to the end of his…〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Give me all the details； including a list of the names。 Put a cross against the name of your friend。 I shall see to it that he is not implicated and that only I will see that list。〃
〃You are very considerate； Mr。 Secretary。〃
〃In return I shall consult with Defense and the Pentagon。〃 He paused。 〃Even that will not be necessary。 In return I can personally guarantee you a sufficiency of air and sea cover against any normal or even considerable hazard。〃
Lord Worth didn't doubt him。 Benton had the reputation of being a man of unshakable integrity。 More important； he had the justly deserved reputation of being the President's indispensable right…hand man。 Benton delivered。 Lord Worth decided against showing too much relief。
〃I cannot tell you how deeply grateful I am。〃 He looked at the stenographer and then at Howell。 〃If I could borrow this lady's services…〃
〃Of course。〃 The stenographer turned a fresh page in her notebook and waited expectantly。
Lord Worth said： 〃The place…Lake Tahoe； California。 The address…〃
The telephone jangled。 The stenographer gave Lord Worth an 〃excuse me〃 smile and picked up the handset。 Howell said to the Secretary： 〃Dammit； I gave the strictest instructions…〃
〃It's for Lord Worth。〃 She was looking at Benton。 〃A Mr。 Mitchell from Florida。 Extremely urgent。〃 The Secretary nodded and the stenographer rose and handed the phone to Lord Worth。
〃Michael？ How did you know I was here 。 。 。 Yes； I'm listening。〃
He listened without interruption。 As he did so； to the considerable consternation of those watching him； the color drained from his tanned cheeks and left them an unhealthy sallow color。 It was Benton himself who rose； poured out a brandy and brought it across to Lord Worth； who took it blindly and drained the not inconsiderable contents at a gulp。 Benton took the glass from him and went for a refill。 When he came back Lord Worth took the drink but left it untouched。 Instead he handed the instrument to Benton and held his left hand over Ms now screwed…shut eyes。
Benton spoke into the phone。 〃State Department。 Who's speaking？〃
Mitchell's voice was faint but clear。 〃Michael Mitchell； from Lord Worth's home。 Is that…is that Dr。 Benton？〃
〃Yes。 Lord Worth seems to have received a severe shock。〃
〃Yes； sir。 His two daughters have been kidnaped。〃
〃Good God above！〃 Benton's habitual imperturbability had received a severe dent。 No one had even seen him register shock before。 Perhaps it was the bluntness of the announcement。 〃Are you sure？〃
〃I wish to hell I wasn't； sir。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃We…my partner John Roomer and I…are private investigators。 We are not here in an investigative capacity。 We are here because we are neighbors and friends of Lord Worth and his daughters。〃
〃Called the police？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What's been done？〃
〃We have arranged for the blocking of all air and sea escape routes。〃
〃You have descriptions？〃
〃Poor。 Five men； heavily armed； wearing stocking masks。〃
〃What's your opinion of the local law？〃
〃Low。〃
〃I'll call in the FBI。〃
〃Yes； sir。 But as the criminals haven't been traced； there's no evidence that they've crossed the state line。〃
〃Hell with state lines and regulations。 If I say they're called in； that's it。 Hold on。 I think Lord Worth would like another word。〃 Lord Worth took the receiver。 Some color had returned to his cheeks。
〃I'm leaving now。 Less than three hours； I should say。 I'll radio from the Boeing half an hour out。 Meet me at the airport。〃
〃Yes； sir。 mander Larsen would like to know…〃
〃Tell him。〃 Lord Worth replaced the phone； took another sip of his brandy。 〃There's no fool like an old fool； and only a blind fool would have overlooked so obvious a move。 This is war； even if undeclared war； and in war no holds are barred。 To think that it should e to this before you had incontrovertible proof that I am indeed under siege。 Unforgivable。 To have left my daughters unguarded was wholly unforgivable。 Why didn't I have the sense to leave Mitchell and Roomer on guard？〃 He looked at his now…empty glass and the stenographer took it away。
Benton was faintly skeptical。 〃But against five armed men？〃
Lord Worth looked at him morosely。 〃I had forgotten that you don't know those men。 Mitchell； for example； could have taken care of them all by himself。 He's lethal。〃
〃So they're your friends； and you respect them。 Don't take offense； Lord Worth； but is there any way that they could be implicated in this？〃
〃You must be out of your mind。〃 Lord Worth； still morose； sipped his third brandy。 〃Sorry； I'm not myself。 Sure； they'd like to kidnap my daughters； almost as much as my daughters would like to be kidnaped by them。〃
〃That the way it is？〃 Benton seemed mildly astonished。 In his experience； billionaires' daughters did not normally associate with the likes of private investigators。
〃That's the way。 And hi answer to your next two questions： yes； I approve and no； they don't give a damn about my money。〃 He shook his head wonderingly。 〃It is extremely odd。 And I shall forecast this； Mr。 Secretary。 When Marina and Melinda are brought back to me it won't be through the good offices of either the local police or your precious FBI。 Mitchell and Roomer will bring them back。 One does not wish to sound overly dramatic； but they would； quite literally； give their lives for my daughters。〃
〃And； as a corollary； they would cut down anyone who got in their way？〃
For the first time since the phone call Lord Worth smiled； albeit faintly。 〃I'll take the fifth amendment on that one。〃
〃I must meet those paragons sometime。〃
〃Just as long as it's not over the wrong end of Mitchell's gun。〃 He rose； leaving his drink unfinished； and looked round the room。 〃I must go。 Thank you all for your kindness and consideration； not to say forbearance。〃 He left with the Secretary by his side。
When the door closed behind him General Zwe