Traitors' Gate by Dennis Wheatley Read Free Book Online Page B

carried him back out of the hell of Thiepval Wood after he had been mortally wounded. Since then Gregory had gradually taken the place of that son in the old man’s affections.
    Although it would have been against his principles to persuade anyone of whom he was fond against risking their life for their country in time of war, he had been extremely glad when the threat of the call-up had enabled him to plant Gregory in a safe job; and he had hoped that he would come to feel that honour had been satisfied by his previous exploits. As this was no question of an urgent mission, and the whole idea was drawing a bow at a venture, Sir Pellinore decided that he was justified in trying to retrieve the situation; so he said with apparent casualness:
    ‘Not much good you goin’ to Budapest. You don’t speak Hungarian.’
    ‘What has that to do with it?’ Gregory brushed the objection aside. ‘I have worked in Norway, Finland, Russia, Holland without a word of the language of those countries. Anyhow, everyone in Budapest speaks German, and that’s my second tongue.’
    ‘The Hungarians wouldn’t budge without a pretty strong inducement. It would mean getting the War Cabinet, and Roosevelt too, to agree that they should keep Transylvania and Ruthenia after the war, and probably be given a port on theAdriatic into the bargain. Our top chaps might not be willing to promise that.’
    ‘I can’t believe it! Statesmen don’t usually boggle at giving away territory which isn’t theirs to give. And if there is a chance that, given this promise, the Hungarians will do all that a Second Front would do for us, Britain and America would be mad not to make it.’
    ‘True enough. But there’s no call for you to get out your automatics and buy a Tyrolean hat. This is a job for the F.O. I’ll put the idea up to someone there tomorrow morning.’
    Gregory shook his head. ‘Judging by the Foreign Office form in this war so far, that wouldn’t get us anywhere. They would take a year to think it over; then go cap in hand to the wrong chap in Budapest. What’s needed is someone to go there and find out what is cooking and who is the cook.’
    ‘I hardly like to ask for you to be released from your job to go off in what may prove a wild goose chase.’
    ‘Nonsense! The whole idea of putting me into the War Room was that my leaving it at short notice would not affect its efficient running for even a day. It would be another matter if I were a Planner, or doing an “I” job in some headquarters. General Ismay told me himself that he had suggested it as the most convenient way of keeping me on ice for you, and the time has come when I want you to take me off it.’
    ‘All right, then,’ Sir Pellinore conceded reluctantly. ‘Have it your own way,’
    ‘Fine!’ Gregory grinned. In the last few minutes he seemed to have become a different man. His fretful despondency had completely disappeared and he voiced his racing thoughts. ‘Those damn maps have been getting me down. A chance to use my wits again without taking on a suicide gamble was the very thing I needed. Budapest is a lovely city, the Hungarians are charming people, and there will be none of those blond beasts in black uniforms who might claim me at the end of a pistol as an old acquaintance. This, as the R.A.F. say, is a piece of cake. When can I start?’
    ‘Bad policy to rush your fences. You’ll do better if I first collect all the information I can for you to work on. That will take a little time. Then there are the arrangements for your journey. Say in about ten days.’
    ‘Couldn’t suit me better. I’m due for some leave and I can fix up to take it at forty-eight hours’ notice. That will give mea clear week with Erika. Naturally I shan’t tell the chaps in the War Room that I may not be coming back for a month or two. I’ll leave you to arrange that with Colonel Jacob.’
    Sir Pellinore nodded. ‘I’ll suggest that, when he puts in a replacement, he should