nowadays. Once it was Berlin and once it was Madrid and once it was London. Now it is either Washington or Hong Kong. I think I much prefer Washington.â
âBusiness is good, I take it?â
âExcellent,â she said. âIâve rediscovered many old friends here and I have made a number of new ones. There are some mutual acquaintances whom we could have great fun gossiping about sometime.â
âNothing would be more enjoyable, but there is a deadline and once again I need your help.â
She sighed and put her cigarette out carefully. âThis time I will charge you, Michael. In the past I have helped you for foolish sentimental reasons, but this time you will pay. The price: Spend one hour soon with an old friend and listen to her memories.â
âYou would be paying me,â Padillo said. âIt will be a rare privilege and we will do it quite soon.â
She looked at him and smiled slightly. âYou even lie like your father. You are not yet married?â
âNo.â
âThen I will be the matchmaker. You are a wonderful catch, and I will find you a rich bride.â
âI will be in debt to your ability as well as to your good taste.â
âNow, what is it that you wish to know?â
âI want to locateâtoday, if possibleâthree persons.â
âAre they in the States?â
âSo Iâve heard.â
âTheir names?â
âPhilip Price, Jon Dymec, Magda Shadid.â
âA mixed bag, Michael,â she said in English. âAn Englishman, a Pole, and Magda, half-Syrian, half-Hungarian. I didnât realize you knew her.â
âWeâve met. Are they in town?â
âTwo of them are, Magda and Price. Dymec is temporarily in New York.â
âCan you get word to them?â
âl can.â
âToday.â
âYes.â
âJust tell them Iâm at the Mayflower, and that Iâm calling my loan.â
âDo you know these persons, Herr McCorkle?â
âNo. Theyâre Mikeâs friends.â
âTake my advice. Keep it that way.â She turned to Padillo. âYou know, Michael, that you have piqued my curiosity and you know that I will eventually learn everything.â
Padillo turned on the smile he used to charm old ladies and snakes. âIn such affairs, Madelena, the fewer who know, the less the chance for future recriminations and shattered friendships. I promise youâat the earliest opportunityââ
âAch! Michael, you have made your promises before, but the facts Iâve had to read in Die Welt or The Times or Le Monde. By the time you return, the news will be old. You know I like the detailsâthe grisly parts that never get printed.â
âThis time I swear to youââ
âI will do as you say. I will be in touch with Price, Dymec and Shadid. Since you know who they are, you know what they are, and I do not have to warn you. It is an exceedingly strange combination. Do they know each other?â
âI have no idea,â Padillo said.
âYou are the common denominator then?â
âYes.â
âAnd I should not mention one to another?â
âNo.â
âConsider it done.â She rose. âI shall see you to the door.â She paused by Padillo and put her hand on his arm and turned to me. âMr. McCorkle, the persons that Michael wishes me to reach are most dangerous and, I should add, most untrustworthy.â
Padillo grinned. âWhat sheâs trying to say is that theyâre crooks who would peddle their aunts. Mac doesnât know anyone like that, Madelena. He lives among those of noble thought and kindly deed.â
âHis face makes you out a liar, Michael,â she said looking at me with clear dark eyes. âYou have to travel a far distance to acquire a face like that.â
I bowed over her hand again and Padillo said: âI am in your