The List of Adrian Messenger Page #5

The motive is fear, of course.

And self preservation.

But it isn't fear of death.

What he wants to preserve isn't

merely the capacity to breathe.

So what is it?

Can't be anything in

the past because that's over.

Nor in the present, or he couldn't

have afforded all the time he's taken.

Ergo,

it must be something in the future.

-You do follow me, l hope?

-Id be happy if you'd tell me where.

Into

the veiled land of things to come!

What is it that the Canadian

wants to protect so desperately?

Since he is guilty of treason,

obviously his neck.

But only in the future...

or he wouldn't have taken so long to

kill those who could've ID'd him.

So, he must be sure he's

going to come into some position...

that will thrust him into

the public eye!

Pike, what's been done about

identifying this Canadian?

Its all in hand, sir.

Seymour is at the War Office.

He's searching the records for every

Canadian that was in the operation.

Blessed if l can see what future

position he could be concerned about.

Its got to be something

he's sure he's going to get.

Which brings us to

the question of inheritance.

-Millions or a Dukedom?

-Or both, Sir Wilfred.

Pike, get on to the War Office and

see what progress Seymour's making.

-LeBorg?

-Yes.

-What do you call this?

-"Balais".

Not in French.

In English.

A brush.

A brush for the floor.

Back we go into the cruel sea.

What the devil is all this about?

The final pieces begin to

fall into shape. Bear with me.

-Ready?

-Now, is okay.

You've been in the sea a long time.

Most of Messenger's talk is finished,

suddenly he says something like...

''Only one broom.''

No, this is not precise.

But now l remember.

He was saying,

''all the brooms clean sweep.''

''Only one broom left.''

Congratulations.

And heartfelt thanks.

This is better?

This broom means more than brush?

It means everything.

Broome is the family name of

the Marquis of Gleneyre.

Gleneyre?

But that is Jocelyn's family.

-Quite.

-Seymour is back.

There's information, sir.

The only Canadian sergeant in

the operation.

Sergeant George Brougham,

Duke of Athone's Light Infantry...

Missing, believed dead.

''Had a brother went to America once.

Canada, actually. Suppose he's

dead by now. Almost everyone is.''

-l beg your pardon.

-Just remember what the Marquis said.

Gleneyre! That's motive enough for

a dozen murders.

107, to be exact. if you include

airplane and train wreck victims.

-Now the old Marquis has his neck...

-l shouldn't think he was in danger.

But this chap can't inherit until...

No, but he can afford to wait for

an 84-year-old man to die naturally.

Its the real heir who's in danger.

The boy, of course?

Come on!

Come on!

-l say, you startled me.

-l want to see the young lord.

-Im Derek Bruttenholm.

-Then she's for you.

-For me?

-A present from Adrian Messenger.

Adrian?

He's dead.

Its from him all the same.

Come on, lad, get up on it.

Just grab a handful of mane.

You don't need reins with Avatar.

She's gypsy-trained.

Come on.

Get up on it.

Your knees will turn her, and your

voice will make her stop and go.

Now, remember this.

Jatogree means go.

And to hold hard say "Til droven".

''Jatogree''.

Come back here.

Master Derek!

Master Derek!

Thank heaven you've arrived.

We were beginning to despair.

Father this is Monsieur LeBorg.

This is my father-in-law.

-Thanks for that business with Adrian.

-Nothing at all.

How's that hallo-ing?

Milord!

-What is it?

-Master Derek, sir.

A gypsy man just put him

up on a mare.

-A gypsy? Where is he?

-He's in the stable yard, sir.

-Why didn't you stop him?

-Derek! Where are you?

Go, Avatar!

Til droven.

Derek, are you all right?

Look what Adrian gave me.

Isn't she a beauty? Her name's

Avatar and she moves on command.

Derek, what are you talking about.

You know that Adrian's gone.

lf you don't want the mare,

Ill take her away.

-Ive done my part.

-We want her, all right.

She took the stable fence with

two feel of daylight beneath her.

-You didn't jump in this fog.

-No, she jumped me.

-Ive never ridden such an animal.

-Damn odd, this whole business.

Adrian just buried, and this

gypsy fellow appearing with a...

-When did Mr. Messenger buy her?

-A year and a day past.

l was to deliver her as soon

as she was gentle and trained.

Its all right, father. Adrian

and the gypsies were friends.

Remember he wrote ''Romany ways''?

You can believe what he says.

Four-year-old. Good bone.

Damn fine animal.

Hard to fault.

Well, here's a fiver for your...

You hunt, LeBorg?

Alas,

the horse and l are not compatible.

Shoot, eh?

The birds don't attack me,

l don't attack them.

-Fish?

-Why?

All the fish one wants are

available in the market.

What do you do?

-He swims.

-Not by choice, Madame.

The rest are mine, l think.

-By George, you're right.

-That makes you down three.

l am also a superb tennis player

and l have a two handicap at golf.

Good game, l hear.

Never played, myself.

l have an apartment in Paris,

Avenue Foch.

And a small chateau in the Auvergne.

My dear fellow, you don't

have to give me an accounting.

You are the head of the family, no?

Well, yes...

l suppose l am.

Well to continue,

my business is in textile.

Factories in France and Switzerland.

My income is not large, but adequate.

About half a million new francs.

That is 36,000 of your pounds.

For

the rest, l am 43, in sound health,...

except for some painful ribs,

and l have been in jail only once.

That was by the Germans.

Your bid, Madame.

l pass.

Good morning.

Lovely day.

These are all members of the hunt?

No, there are always visitors.

Anyone can ride, you know,

if they pay the fee.

-Good morning,...

-lf you don't mind, please...

-Here.

-Thank you, good hunting.

Thank you very much, sir.

Morning, mother. Morning, sir.

Sorry you're not riding with us.

l myself am delighted.

Ive had all

the broken ribs l care for.

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, boy!

Where the devil did you come from?

l just followed the hounds, master.

You certainly deserve this.

First time Ive been beaten to

the kill in 40 years as Master.

Thank you.

-What did you say your name was?

-l didn't, but it's Brougham.

We spell it differently to you,

but it's still Broome, Uncle.

Bless my soul.

Are you my brother's whelp?

George is my name.

Why the devil didn't

you introduce yourself?.

l thought Id size you up first.

That settles it, you are a Brougham,

no matter how you misspell it.

Derek, come over here.

Here's a new cousin for you.

l suppose that's what you'd be.

Canadian branch of the family.

-How do you do, sir?

-Hello, Derek.

Come over here and meet his mother.

Jocelyn, my dear.

This is my brother Louie's son.

-How do you do, Lady Bruttenholm.

-Didn't know he existed till now.

Extraordinary.

-Welcome to Gleneyre.

-Thank you.

This is Monsieur LeBorg.

-Delighted.

-Delighted as well.

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