The Night of Wenceslas by Lionel Davidson Read Free Book Online Page B

it. And they will flood the world with it. You know what it means.’
    ‘I don’t, Mr Pavelka,’ I said. ‘I don’t know anything about glass. I only worked in the office.’ His big dog eyes were looking seriously at me, but it was plain he didn’t understand me, or didn’t believe me, or didn’t care. I glanced desperately at little Cunliffe. He gazed blandly back.
    ‘You need have no fears, Mr Whistler,’ Cunliffe said after a moment of silence. ‘It is the simplest job in the world. I could do it, or Mr Pavelka here or a reasonably intelligent boy scout. It is all a matter of finding someone with a legitimate reason for visiting glass factories – someone the Czechoslovak authorities would not suspect. Your father was a well-known glass importer. It is entirely natural that you should wish to start up trade again. You will go as a buyer, of course.’
    ‘They’re not going to sell me this unbreakable glass!’
    ‘No. It’s not in production yet. And I gather a specimen of the glass wouldn’t be very useful for our purposes. One can’t hope to duplicate it after analysis because of the fusion process in glass – you’ll know more about that than I would. You’re bringing back the formula.’
    His reasonable tone had been bringing the project down to earth; the word ‘formula’ although casually dropped in put it back on a new mad plane. Cunliffe saw my expression and smiled. ‘A bit of paper with a few figures on – you won’t know anything about it. I assure you unless I told you where it was you wouldn’t know you were carrying it. The whole thing has been arranged so that there is not the slightest danger to you. After all, we’re going to quite a bit of trouble and expense to get thatformula, and Mr Pavelka, as you can see, has thought about scarcely anything else since 1934.’
    ‘That’s just it,’ I said eagerly, and turned to Pavelka who was staring moodily at a drinking glass on the desk. ‘There’s so much trouble and money involved here that I’d be a definite weak link. I’d be frightened out of my life. They couldn’t help but suspect me. You’ve waited years for this. For God’s sake, Mr Pavelka,’ I cried, ‘put someone you can trust on the job. I’d wreck your chances for life.’
    ‘It is very pleasing, is it not?’ Cunliffe said to Pavelka, his head held a little to one side as he listened to me. ‘I thought I was not mistaken the first time. Modesty, circumspection, reserve, a little childish cunning. … I won’t conceal from you, Mr Whistler,’ he said to me, ‘that I am more and more taken with your manner. I am sure the Czechoslovak authorities will expect you to be a little – well, a little as you are. Your family was there in the old days, the former capitalist class. … It would be difficult to make a better choice for the job. And now to business,’ he said as my mouth opened.
    ‘The moment you return with the – the bit of paper, I hand you the loan certificate. Both copies!’ he said, smiling. ‘And on top of that we will pay you a further two hundred pounds. Moreover, if you do not feel inclined to return to your job, I dare say Mr Pavelka will be prepared to offer you something. He has the highest hopes for the new process.’
    ‘It will be colossal,’ Pavelka said. ‘Of course you will work for me.’
    ‘There,’ said Cunliffe. ‘The prospects are unlimited and you’ve got to admit the pay is princely for a few days’ pleasant sightseeing with all expenses paid.’
    ‘How many days?’ I asked reluctantly.
    ‘That is not entirely clear yet. Perhaps only four or five. They will want to give you a good time. It is all a matter of how quickly you can tear yourself away.’
    ‘And when do I pick up this – this formula?’
    ‘Probably the day after you arrive. If so, of course, you must try and cut short your stay. It is really something you mustdecide when you are there. They will make a programme for you and one of the items