'Only the last one,' said Anne.
Glen Ricardo sighed and stretched his hand across the table wearily. Anne reluctantly took the letter out of her bag and then hesitated for a moment.
'I know how you feel, Mrs. Osborne, but I can't do the job with one hand tied behind my back.'
'Of course, Mr. Ricardo, I'm sorry.'
Anne couldn't believe she had said 'of course.
Ricardo read the letter through two or three times before speaking. 'Have they all been typed on this sort of paper and sent in this sort of envelopeT 'Yes, I think so,' said Anne. 'As far as I can remember? 'Well, when the next one comes be sure to - - - 2 'Can you be so certain there will be another one?' interrupted Anne.
'Of course, so be sure to keep it. Now give me all the details about your husband. Do you have a photograph?'
Tes.' Once again she hesitated.
'I only want to look at the face. Don't want to waste my time chasing the wrong man, do I?' said Ricardo.
Anne opened her bag again and passed him a worn - edged photograph of Henry in alieutenant's uniform.
'Good - looking man, Mr. Osborne,' said the detective. 'When was this photograph taken?'
'About five years ago, I think,' said Anne. 'I didn't know him when he was in the army.'
Ricardo questioned Anne for several minutes on Henry's daily movements. She was surprised to find how little she really knew of Henry's habits, or past.
'Not a lot to go onj Mrs. Osborne, but I'll do the best I can. Now, my charges are ten dollars a day plus expenses. I will make a written report for you once a week. Two weeks' payment in advance, please! I - Es hand came across the desk again, this time more eagerly.
Anne opened her handbag once more and took out two crisp new one hundred - dollar notes and passed them over to Ricardo. He studied the notes carefully as if he wasn't certain which distinguished American should be engraved ort them. Benjamin Franklin gazed imperturbably at Ricardo, who obviously had not seen him for some time. Ricardo handed Anne sixty dollars in grubby fives.
'I see you work on Sundays, Mr. Ricardo,' said Anne, pleased with her mental arithmetic.
'Of course,' he said. 'Will the same time next week suit you, Mrs.
Osborne?'
'Of course,' said Anne and left quickly to avoid having to shake hands with the man behind the desk.
When William read in his quarterly trust report from Kane and Cabot that Henry Osborne - Henry Osborne, he repeated the name out loud to be sure he could believe it - was requesting five hundred thousand dollars for a personal investment, he had a bad day. For the first time in four years at St. Paul's he came second in a maths test. Matthew Lester, who beat him, asked if he was feeling well.
That evening, William rang Alan Lloyd at home. The chairman of Kane and Cabot was not altogether surprised to hear from him after Anne's disclosure of the unhappy relationship between her son and Henry.
'William, dear boy, how are you and how are things at St. Paul's?'
'All is well this end, thank you, sir, but thaes not why I telephoned!
The tact of an advancing Mack truck, thought Alan. 'No, I didn't imagine it was,' he replied drily. 'What can I do for YOUF 'I'd like to see you tomorrow afternoon? 'On a Sunday, William?'
'Yes, as it's the only day I can get away from school, I'll come to you any time any place.' William made the statement sound as though it were a concession on his part. 'And under no condition is my mother to know of our meeting!
'Well, William...' Alan Lloyd began.
Williarns voice grew firmer. 'I don't have to remind you, sir, that the investment of trust money in my step - father's personal venture, while not actually illegal, could undoubtedly be considered as unethical!
Alan Lloyd was silent for a few moments, wondering if he should try and placate the bay over the telephone. Ile boy. He also thought about remonstrating with - him, but the time for that had now passed.
'Fine, William. Why don't you join me for a spot of lunch at the Hunt Club, say one o'clock?'
'I'll look forward to seeing you then, sir.' The telephone clicked.
At least the confrontation is to be on my home ground, thought Alan Lloyd with some relief as h. - replaced the mouthpiece, cursing Mr. Bell for inventing the damn machine.
Alan had chosen the Hunt Club because he did not want the meeting to be too private. The first thing William asked when he arrived ai the clubhouse was that he should be allowed a round of golf after lunch.
Telighted, my boy,' said Alan, and reserved the first tee for three o'clock.