The Deadly Affair Page #8

I learned in Naples how to poison flowers,

To strangle with a lawn

thrust down the throat,

To pierce the windpipe

with a needle's point,

Or whilst one is asleep, to take a quill

And blow a little powder in his ears,

Or open his mouth,

and pour quicksilver down.

But yet I have a braver way than these.

What's that?

Nay, you shall pardon me,

none shall know my tricks.

I care not how it is, so it be not spied.

Take this. And never see me more.

I'm sorry.

Look, come on,

slosh your face with cold water. Come on.

He's not that ugly.

Who is he?

His name is Dieter Frey.

I operated him in the war from Zurich.

Do you mean he's on our side?

He was on Russia's side,

and in those days, Russia's was our side.

For over a month now, he's been getting

messages that were absolutely useless,

so he must have come over to find out why.

He was probably trailing Fennan

when he recognised me in the park

and thought I might be an enemy.

He found out I was.

- How?

- I'll tell you about it some day.

- One of us ought to go back in.

- Wait a minute, I'm coming with you.

I want to be there when they realise

that neither summoned the other,

that the postcard was the trap.

All right, come on.

These looks of thine

can harbour nought but death.

I see my tragedy written in thy brows.

Yet stay awhile, forbear thy bloody hand,

And let me see the stroke before it comes.

That even then when I shall lose my life,

My mind may be more steadfast on my God.

What means your highness

to mistrust me thus?

What means thou

to dissemble with me thus?

These hands were never stained

with innocent blood,

Nor shall they now be tainted with a king's.

Forgive my thought

for having such a thought.

One jewel have I left,

receive thou this.

Still fear I, and I know not what's the cause,

But every joint shakes as I give it thee.

They know.

O, if thou harbour'st murder in thy heart,

Let this gift change thy mind,

and save thy soul.

Know that I am a king:

Oh, at that name I feel a hell of grief!

Where is my crown?

Gone, gone, and do I remain alive?

You're overwatched, my lord,

lie down and rest.

But that grief keeps me waking,

I would sleep,

For these ten days

have not these eyelids closed.

As I speak, they fall,

yet with fear open again.

Say, wherefore sits thou here?

If you mistrust me, I'll be gone, my lord.

No,

for if thou mean'st to murder me,

Thou wilt return.

Stay, I will sleep.

He sleeps.

How now, my lord?

Something still buzzeth in mine ears

And tells me if I sleep I never wake.

This is the fear that makes me tremble thus.

Say it, wherefore art thou come?

To rid thee of thy life.

Matrevis, come, bring me the table.

I am too weak and feeble to resist.

Assist me, sweet God, and receive my soul!

Oh, set it down,

and stamp on it.

How say, Lords, was not this bravely done?

Excellent well,

take this for thy reward.

Come, let us cast his body in the moat,

And bear the King's to Mortimer,

our lord. Away!

She's not applauding.

She can't have enjoyed it.

It's not a woman's play.

I'll take up my position in the lobby.

Stay by your phone, Charlie.

What's happening down there?

- Yes?

- I've run him to ground.

Can you meet me at the embankment end

of Lot's Road right away?

- Then you followed him?

- Of course I bloody followed him.

I nipped out

before the house lights went up. Hurry.

Before the lights went up?

Then that means that you...

Mendel? Mendel, hello?

This way.

I allowed him to spot me.

We've got to panic him

into giving himself away.

He has given himself away.

While you were leaving, he strangled Elsa

in the theatre, the quiet way.

Single degree pressure

on the thyroid cartilage.

- Oh, God. Did you tell the police?

- No, you told me to hurry.

I'll telephone, you wait here.

He can't get out any other way.

Okay.

Servus, Charles.

Tell your friend that if he tries that again,

I shall shoot him, not to wound but to kill.

- Can I go to him?

- No.

Me next?

Don't force me.

Without a gun, and only one hand,

I couldn't even strangle

a defenceless Jewess.

Elsa was trying to defect.

She typed the anonymous letter

about Fennan

and drew the attention of Security.

Fennan typed it.

He wanted to tell us unofficially

that his wife was a spy.

Somebody else knew.

Somebody else sent a postcard.

You sent it?

The way I used to when we were friends,

and worked together.

You trapped me.

An hour ago, I hoped it wasn't you.

But now I don't care.

- Why?

- Because you trapped Ann.

You'd seen me with Fennan in the park.

You used her to keep track of me.

I only did

what many other men with less justification

have done to her already.

How much does he know?

Only that you're wanted.

He's an ordinary policeman.

Then the leaks are plugged.

Fennan. Harek. Elsa.

I've had to hurt you,

and I don't want to hurt you anymore.

- In two hours, I'll be out of the country.

- I just want to know one thing.

Are you going back to her in Zurich?

Charles! Charles!

Dieter!

Dieter!

By the way,

the Adviser indicated his good wishes.

"Indicated?"

He was on the run at the time.

Tummy trouble.

Must have been eating his own words.

We want you back.

Think about it.

Ladies and gentlemen,

in a few minutes we shall land in Zurich.

Will you please fasten your seat belts?

Thank you.

Departure to London by Swissair Flight 824,

gate number four.

Charles!

I got your wire.

Yes.

Charles, are you a little drunk?

What happened?

I have to tell you.

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