Codeword Golden Fleece by Dennis Wheatley Read Free Book Online Page A

accursed war which now menaced the happiness of countless thousands.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ he smiled. ‘But I would like to leave first thing on Monday morning, so you must be back here on Sunday night. That will still give you your three days with Jan. Then on Monday he can fly us into Warsaw and we’ll get the plane on to Budapest. If war has already been declared and the air service is cancelled, there will still be plenty of trains, and we’ll get home somehow, either via the Balkans or Scandinavia.’
    Lucretia suddenly put her arms round his neck and kissed him on both cheeks. ‘Oh, darling,’ she sighed, ‘this means so much to me, and no one but you would understand.’
    ‘Bless you,’ he murmured. ‘Try to put the thought of war out of your lovely head for the next three days. Have a good time, and may the gods bring you back happy.’
    De Richleau had intended to leave the following morning and go via Vienna, so that he could pick up Richard Eaton and Marie Lou, since he felt reasonably certain that they would have had no special warning that the danger was now so close at hand. Vienna, where he had spent so many happy times as a young man, was now a Nazi city, and it was imperative that the Eatonsshould not get caught there; but Lucretia’s project forced him to change his plans.
    Having considered the matter carefully, he took the first opportunity that offered after dinner to have a word with the Baroness. Knowing that it was hopeless to wait for her to be alone, he kept a watchful eye upon the corner of the salon where she held her court, until the officers who were exchanging witticisms with her excused themselves to join General Mack, leaving the faithful Count Ignac as her sole companion.
    As de Richleau approached she smiled up at him and, patting the empty chair at her side, cried gaily: ‘Come and sit down, Duke. I have hardly seen you these last few days. You should be ashamed of yourself for neglecting me so.’
    Taking her hand, he kissed it gallantly, then made a little foreign gesture of mock distress. ‘But it is you, Madame, who have neglected me. I am an old man, so how can I compete with all these handsome fellows whom you are now entertaining in your house?’
    ‘Nonsense, Duke,’ she protested, but her thin, clever face lit up at the compliment. ‘You are more handsome and distinguished looking than the lot of them.’
    ‘I wish I could believe you really thought that,’ he said half-seriously.
    ‘Be careful now,’ she warned him, with a swift, mocking glance from her small, black eyes, ‘or you will be making Ignac jealous.’
    The Count’s face broke into a lazy smile. ‘I am told that you are far too good a shot to challenge, Duke, so I would have to console myself with the old saying that you have in England: “He who laughs last laughs longest.” In due course you will be leaving Poland, whereas I shall remain.’
    ‘It was of that which I intended to speak to Madame,’ said de Richleau with sudden seriousness. ‘Lucretia and I have enjoyed our stay at Lubieszow more than I can say, but I fear that we must start on our way homeward in a few days now.’
    ‘That is sad indeed.’ The Baroness’ ugly face took on an appropriate look, but he noted that she did not press him to stay on.
    ‘Yes,’ he agreed, ‘I am most loth to go. The peace and beauty of Lubieszow have made an indelible impression upon me, and if only the troubles which threaten us all can be avoided I greatly hope that you will ask me to stay again.’
    ‘But of course. We should be enchanted. Lubieszow is at your disposal whenever you wish.’
    ‘You are too good,’ he smiled; ‘but if you mean that also to apply to the present I wonder if I may really take you at your word?’
    Count Ignac could hardly conceal the suspicion which was dawning in his glance, but the Baroness said quietly: ‘Please go on, Duke.’
    ‘It is this way,’ de Richleau purred. ‘I had intended to go home via