Rope of Sand Page #3

never disclosed the

location of the diamonds.

The curious part about the story

as it was told me is

that this young man, this guide,

he's supposed to be

right here in diamond stud

this very moment.

His purpose of course you

can easily guess.

Have you ever done any

hunting, Mr. Davis?

Once or twice.

I was only thinking if you ever

meet this young men, this

guide, you might deliver

a message for me.

Saying what?

Oh, saying...

saying that I'm here free

as the wind, fountain of

extraordinary knowledge,

splendidly corrupt and eager

to be of profitable service.

Where would he find you?

That wouldn't be difficult.

Never heard of him.

If you'll excuse me, please.

You see, they and I, we slightly

disagree about a

man's privilege to...

to occasionally sell or buy

a few little diamonds.

Until we meet again.

Good luck.

Keep out of the draft.

After you, sir.

Don't be so rude!

Don't push me!

Bring me another whiskey

and soda, will you?

Yes, sir.

There's your quarry.

Hello, Michael.

You're looking so much better

than when I saw you last.

It was a long rest.

Oh, forgive me, Mr. Davis.

Miss Renaud, she's the niece

of one of our stockholders.

How do you do?

Hello.

Miss Renaud has come here

to see for herself the

irresistible glamor of Africa.

And the men who live in it.

Really?

Well, Mr. Martingale, I thought

you told me I'd find

this place quite dull.

If I like young, rude Americans,

I should be able to

diamond stud for life.

I'm afraid Michael's a little

jaundiced about the ladies.

It's very common amongst

professional hunters and guides.

I suppose as hunters, they feel

that they ought to do the

hunting.

A hunter?

Well, then perhaps...

retired.

And so young.

No, he's not retired, my dear.

He's just entering the

diamond business.

He's working for you?

I'm working for me.

Michael, may I say

something quickly?

I regard this incident of two

years ago as ancient history.

I hold nothing against you.

I regret what happened, and I'm

willing to see that you

get your license back if you

want will tell us where the

diamond are.

Martingale, I'm dead

from cape town

to the Belgian Congo.

I'm an undesirable, a klinko.

I can't get a job and I

can't get a passport

to go anywhere else.

And you are the one man that can

help me to get my license.

That's why I came back here.

But now you're a little

too late.

Yesterday might have

been different.

Oh?

I didn't like what that smiley

sadist did to me at the

dock, or what he did to

a friend of mine.

I'm sorry to hear this,

Michael, but what can I do?

Not a thing, Martingale,

not a thing.

After the reception Vogel gave

me, I've forgotten where the

diamonds are.

Have you?

Cheers.

You'll have to do

better, my dear.

Come along.

Hello, Carl.

Your Mr. Davies hates Vogel,

and Vogel hates him.

You know the one thing Vogel

treasures more than his

house... and you must see

his house, my dear...

is the hope of someday beating

Mike Davis to death.

You know, I find the commandant

most charming, and

I intend to spend a good part

of the evening with him.

So why don't you invite

him to our table?

Davis is your business.

Diamonds are your business.

But men are mine.

Tell me, have you ever

gone fishing?

Hm.

What did you use for bait?

Small mackerel.

A fish.

So if you were looking to catch

a man, what would you

use for bait?

You know my fondest hope was

that you'd find the diamonds.

But this?

Set each of them against

the other?

The memory of it will warm

me in my old age.

Oh, hello Paul.

Would you like to join us?

Delighted.

I'll come.

Mademoiselle Renaud.

I hope you're enjoying

diamond stud.

Even more than I expected.

Do sit down, Paul.

Why, thank you.

Would you like to have some

champagne with me?

Well, that'd be very nice.

Breathly cold, cool as

the desert night.

Mademoiselle Renaud, you must

me to show you the desert at

night sometimes.

It's more here than anywhere

else in the world.

And I'd like you to

see my house.

I think it will please you.

We must do that some time.

To that which diamond stud

never had before.

And now if you'll excuse me.

Why must we wait, Martingale?

Michael?

Yes.

How else can he lead

us to the diamonds?

If you allow me to persuade him.

Now, Paul.

You had your way once with

him and you failed.

Have you forgotten?

No, I haven't forgotten because

of a report of my

failure that someone sent in, I

failed to get a district of

my own.

My dear Paul, must we

always talk shop?

By the way, Paul, when are you

going to apply for the perseus

club in cape town again?

A day you'll be absent from

the voting on membership.

This is a very dangerous

thing to do, Mr. Davis.

You are tense.

Cautious.

I:

I thought you might

want company.

I'm used to being alone.

Oh, yes, that's right.

A hunter.

And you're a stockholder's

niece.

One cannot be too particular

when one is in need of

employment.

Well, sometimes the profession

makes demands that

I don't care to fulfill.

Don't you think that depends

on the employer?

Yes.

Look, I'm not for hire.

You are tense, Mr. Davis.

A man who is tense

makes mistakes.

You're too worried, miss Renaud.

You need a friend.

Just where do you fit into that?

I could be a friend.

I like courage.

What do you like, Mr. Davis?

Honesty.

Game open?

Yes.

He's insulted her.

You'll apologize to

mademoiselle Renaud.

Please!

Please!

Go away, pig.

Get out!

Vogel, I got a little

business here

at the poker table.

You know all I need to make

you sorry I came back is a

little dough.

I might even play with you.

Play you for a miserable

10 shilling?

It wouldn't be worth my while.

Perhaps you'll allow

me to remedy that.

The stakes are 500 pounds.

Shall we say 750?

Shall we say 750?

Cards.

Cut the deal.

I open.

I'll raise you 50.

Cards.

Three.

I'll stand pat.

Check.

Let's make it 100, Vogel.

Forgot to show your

openers, did you?

You should have stayed.

You'd have beaten me.

You wouldn't be bluffing,

Mr. Davis?

What'll you pay to find out?

Straight.

How high?

Nine.

Too bad.

Check.

500 more, and a new

deck of cards.

How many, Mr. Davis?

One.

I'll take one, too.

Check.

All I've got.

Beat my flush.

With pleasure.

Full house, aces.

Cash it for me, will you?

Yes.

To the Victor.

Thank you.

Let's celebrate.

Carl, some more champagne.

Oh, please.

I do not really want champagne.

Not here.

Well, I scarcely know what to

suggest. This is the only

decent place.

I thought perhaps you would

like to show me you house.

Mademoiselle.

Commandant, your money.

Don't take it too hard.

Maybe you haven't lost

as much as you think.

There can't be a place

like it for 100 Miles.

1,000.

It's all been assembled

with great care.

There's only one thing that

I've wanted that I've been

waiting for for a long time,

because I'm a perfectionist.

Nothing of value is

gained easily.

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