Money?'
'No, it seems he has no love for the English. He phoned the Embassy at the start of things, when President Mitterand announced the embargo. He offered to help in any way he could.'
'Interesting,' Donner said.
'We have considerable sympathy here in many quarters,' Garcia added. 'Traditionally, France and Britain have never enjoyed what could be termed a warm relationship.'
Donner opened the file and looked at it again, frowning. Belov waited, admiring the performance.
Garcia said, 'Can you help us?'
'I think so. I can say no more than that at this stage. On a purely business footing, of course. Frankly, I'm not interested in the rights and wrongs of this affair. If I can work something out, find you a few Exocets, I should imagine it would cost you in the region of two to three million.'
'Dollars?' Garcia asked.
'My operations are based in the City of London, Senor Garcia,' Donner told him. 'I only deal in pounds sterling. And in gold. Do you have that much available?'
Garcia swallowed hard. 'No problem. The necessary funds are in Geneva now.'
'Good.' Donner stood up. 'I should like to speak to Professor Bernard.'
'When?' Garcia asked.
'As soon as possible.' Donner looked at his watch. 'Let's say at two o'clock this afternoon. Somewhere nice and open.'
'Two o'clock?' Garcia looked hunted. 'I don't know. It's very short notice. It may not be convenient.'
'Then I suggest you make it convenient,' Donner told him. 'After all, time is of the essence in this affair. If we are to do anything, it must be within a week or ten days at the outside. After that, I should have thought it would be too late. Wouldn't you agree?'
'Of course,' Garcia said hurriedly, and turned to Belov. 'May I use the phone?'
'In the study.'
Garcia went out. Belov said. 'You have an idea, I think?'
'Possibly,' Donner said. 'Something in that file that could suit our purposes admirably.'
'You'll be staying in your apartment in the Rue de Rivoli, I suppose?'
'That's right. Wanda has gone ahead to make sure everything's in apple-pie order.'
'How is she? As beautiful as ever?'
'Did I ever settle for anything less?'
Belov laughed. 'I wonder what you'd do if they decided to recall you home to Moscow after all these years?'
'Home?' Donner said. 'Where's that? And they wouldn't. I'm too valuable where I am. I'm the best there is, you know that.'
Belov shook his head. 'I don't understand you, Felix. Why do you do it? You're certainly no patriot and politics you find games for children, you've told me that often enough.'
'It's the only game in town,' Donner said. 'I enjoy every minute of it. I like beating them, Nikolai, whoever they are. It's as simple as that.'
Belov nodded. 'I believe you. I really do. Is Stavrou with you?'
'Downstairs in the car.'
The study door opened and Garcia entered. 'Fine,' he said. 'All organised.'
* * *
The meeting with Bernard took place on a tourist barge on the Seine, although because of the heavy rain there were few tourists in evidence. Donner and Bernard sat at a table under an awning in the stern, a bottle of Sancerre between them. At the rail, a few yards away, leaned a man who was even taller than Donner, watching the passing scenery. He wore a raincoat over a dark blue suit, black tie and white shirt. His grey hair was cropped to the skull and he had a flat-boned face whose slanted eyes and open nostrils gave him a faintly Mongolian appearance.
This was Yanni Stavrou, half-Turkish, the other half anyone's guess. A French national because of service in Algiers as a French Foreign Legion paratrooper, he was a supremely dangerous man. He had been Donner's chauffeur, body-guard and strong right arm for ten years now.
Professor Bernard said, 'I thought Garcia would be here?'
'Not necessary,' Donner said. 'I've heard everything there is to be heard from him. They need more Exocets desperately.'
'I can imagine. What is your interest in this affair?'
'They've asked me to find them some. You've
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