Way I speak to Mr. William Kane?' asked George.
'Whorn shall I say is calling?' asked the imperturbable voice_ 'Mr. Abel RosnavsW said George.
'I'll see if he is in, sir!
'I think that was Kane's butler. He's gone to look for him,' said George, as he passed the receiver over to Abel. Abel waited, his fingers tapping on the bedside table.
'William Kane speaking!
'Ms is Abel Rosnovski.'
'Indeed?' William's tone was icy. 'And when exactly did you think of setting up your daughter with my son? At the time, no doubt, when you failed so conspicuously to cause the downfall of my bank?'
'Don't be such a damn . . .' Abel checked himself. 'I want this marriage stopped every bit as much as you do. I never tried to take away your son.
I only learned of his existence today. I love my daughter even more than I hate you, and I don't want to lose her. Can't we get together and work something out between us?'
'No,' said William. 'I asked you that same question once in the past, Mr.
Rosnovski, and you made it very clear when and where you would meet me.
I can wait until then, because I am confident you will find it is you who are there, not V INhat's the good of raking over the past now, Kane? If you know where they are, perhaps we can stop them. That's what you want, too. Or are you so goddamn proud that you'll stand by and watch your son marry my girl rather thanhelp...?'
The telephone clicked as he spoke the word %elp'. Abel buried his face in his hands and wept. George took him back to the Baron.
Through that night and the following day, Abel tried every way he could think of to find Florentyna. He even rang her mother, who admitted that their daughter had told her all about Richard Kane.
'He sounded rather nice,' she added spitefully.
'Do you know where they are right now?' asked Abel impatiently.
Tes., Vhere?'
Tind out for yourself! Another telephone click.
Abel placed advertisements in newspapers and even bought radio time. He tried to get the police involved, but they could only put out a general call since she was over twenty - one. No word came from her. Finally, he had to admit to himself that by the time he found her she would undoubtedly be married to the Kane boy.
He re - read her letter many times, and resolved that he would never attempt to harm the boy in any way. But the father, that was a different matter.
He, Abel Rosnovski, had gone down on his knees and pleaded, and the bastard hadn't even listened. Abet vowed that when the chance presented itself, he would finish William Kane off once and for all. George became fearful at the intensity of his old friend's passion.
'Shall I cancel your European trip?' he asked.
Abel had completely forgotten that he was meant to accompany Florentyna to Europe after she had finished her two years with Bloomingdale's at the end of the month. She was going to open the Edinburgh Baron and the Cannes Baron. Now he didn't care who opened what, or whether the hotels were opened at all.
'I can't cancel,' replied Abel. 'I'll have to go and open the hotels myself, but while I'm away, George, you find out exactly where Florentyna is without letting her know. She mustn't think I'm spying on her; she would never forgive me if she found out. Your best bet may well be Zaphia, but be careful because you can be sure she will want to take every advantage of what has happened. It was obvious she had already briefed Florentyna. on everything she knew about Kane.'
~Do you want Osbome to do anything about the Kane shares?'
'No, nothing for the moment. Now is not the appropriate time for finishing Kane off. When I do, I want to be certain that it's once and for all. Leave Kane alone for the time being. I can ~dways come back to him. For now, concentrate on finding Florentyna.'
George promised that he would have found her by the time Abel returned.
Abel opened the Edinburgh Baron three weeks later. The hotel looked quite magnificent as it stood on the hill dominating the Athens of the north.
It was always little things that annoyed Abel most when he opened a new hotel and he would always check them on arrival. A small electric shock when you touched a light switch caused by nylon carpets. Room service that took forty minutes to materialise or a bed that was too small for anyone who was either fat or tall. The press was quick to point out that it had been expected that Florentyna Rosnovski, daughter of the Chicago Baron, would perform the opening ceremony. One of the gossip columnists, from the Sunday Express, hinted at a family rift and reported that Abel had not been his usual exuberant, bouncy self. Abel denied the suggestion unconvincingly, retorting that he was over fifty - not an age for bouncing, his public relations man had told him to say. The press remained unconvinced and the following day the Daily Mail printed a photograph of a discarded engraved bronze plaque, discovered on a rubbish heap, which read : The Edinburgh Baron opened by Florentyna Rosnovski October 17, 1957 Abel flew on to Cannes. Another splendid hotel, this time overlooking the Mediterranean but it didn't help him to get Florentyna out of his mind.