James Chase - The Whiff of Money

This remark irritated von Goltz who would have liked a second helping of the sole cooked with diced lobster tails and in a heavy cream sauce. Angrily, he motioned the footman to change courses.

“You are worrying about something?” he asked, staring at Silk.

“We will discuss it later,” Silk said as the second course of baby lamb was set on the table.

Now it was von Goltz’s turn to be worried. He had been warned by Radnitz about Girland. For the moment, Girland had slipped through his fingers. Girland was out in the open with some two hundred acres of forestland to hide in. Although von Goltz was sure Girland could not get out of the estate and he was not armed, he might take a long time to corner.

The switch that operated the current to the walls was in the lodge at the entrance gates. In the morning when the tradesmen arrived it would be necessary to cut the current to let them in. Girland might discover this and make a break over the wall. But could he discover this?

Suddenly losing his appetite, von Goltz left; his meal half-finished. He turned to the footman standing behind his chair and told him to get Sandeuer immediately.

Silk too had lost interest in the food and again pushed his plate away.

“What is it?” he asked, eyeing von Goltz.

“Girland...” von Goltz got to his feet. “I don’t like the idea of him being out there... free. I know he can’t get away, but...”

The door opened and Sandeuer entered.

“What is happening at the lodge?” von Goltz demanded.

“It is all right, Excellency,” Sandeuer said, bowing. “I have three armed men there. They will remain on duty all night.”

Von Goltz relaxed.

“Good. Make sure they are continually on the alert.”

“Yes, Excellency,” and Sandeuer withdrew.

“A little cheese perhaps?” von Goltz said, sitting again at the table. The reassuring news had restored his appetite. He was now sorry to have dismissed the meat course.

“Not for me,” Silk said impatiently and walked across the room to the open french windows. He moved out onto the terrace and stared across the moonlit lawn to the dark forest.

Von Goltz regarded the basket of cheeses, hesitated, then with a muttered curse, shoved back his chair and joined Silk on the terrace. He disliked Silk. This tall, cold American had no manners and his ruthless face unnerved von Goltz. He knew this man had the ear of his uncle. He was sure a critical report from him would mean he would be turned out of the Schloss. He had no illusions about his uncle. When a man was found wanting by Radnitz he was either dismissed or worse, he disappeared.

“What is it now?” he demanded.

“I’m trying to put myself in Girland’s place,” Silk said. He lit a cigarette. “I’m beginning to wonder if we are being fooled. We are assuming because Rosnold tried to escape, Girland and the girl also made a break. We are assuming that while Rosnold killed the dogs, Girland and the girl got down on to the terrace and made for the forest to the right instead of crossing the lawn as Rosnold did. But suppose they didn’t? Suppose instead, they went upstairs? If I had been in his place, I think that is what I would have done. There are many rooms in this place... many places to hide in.” He looked at von Goltz. “We could spend days hunting for them in the forest while all the time they could be right here.”

Von Goltz stiffened.

“Surely Girland wouldn’t be so stupid as to let himself be trapped here?” he said. “He had the chance to get into the open... surely he would have taken it?”

“Would he? He isn’t to know you have no other dogs. I think he could still be here... with the girl”

“We’ll soon see. I’ll have the place searched.”

“Even if they are not here,” Silk said, “it will give your men something to do. Yes... have the place searched.” He returned to the dining room. “I think I will now have a little cheese,” and he sat down at the table.

Von Goltz sent for Sandeuer.

This was the second time Sandeuer’s dinner had been interrupted. When he received the message that the count wanted to see him immediately, he threw down his knife and fork with an oath. The five senior servants who were eating with him, concealed grins. Sandeuer was not popular. The chef said he would keep Sandeuer’s dinner hot and Sandeuer, still cursing, hurried upstairs to the dining room.

“It is possible.” von Goltz said as he cut a large wedge of cheese, “that the fugitives have not escaped into the forest. They could be still here. Take men and search every room.”

Sandeuer thought of his unfinished dinner.

“Yes, your Excellency,” he said bowing, “but may I suggest that as the top floors have no lighting and are crowded with furniture, a thorough search by flashlight would be difficult. If I may suggest the search could be much more thorough tomorrow morning when the shutters can be opened and every inch of the rooms upstairs examined.”

Von Goltz looked at Silk who shrugged.

“Very well, but post a man at the head of every landing. He is to remain there and keep watch. As soon as it is daylight, the search is to begin.”

Sandeuer bowed and returned to his dinner after giving instructions for the landings to be guarded.

Girland decided it would be safer to go up to the fifth floor of the Schloss. He had checked the number of floors — eight in all — when he had arrived. By going up to the fifth floor, he had three more floors in which to manoeuvre should the need arise.

Holding Gilly’s hand and using his flashlight sparingly, he led her down the long corridor to the stair head. The thick carpet deadened their footfalls. All he could hear was Gilly’s fast breathing, and very faintly, the clatter of dishes as dinner was being served below. He thought regretfully of the food he was missing.

They went silently up the long flight of stairs, paused for a moment, then continued on up another flight of stairs. This landing was in complete darkness. No light from the ground floor reflected up the stair well as far as this.

Girland paused to listen. He heard nothing and moving away from the stair head, he turned on the flashlight. A white drugget covered the carpet. There was a slight smell of damp and must. He led Gilly down the corridor. On either side were doors. He paused at the fifth door. Easing the door open, he peered into darkness, listened, then turned on his flashlight.

The room was large. Standing against one of the walls was a four-poster bed. The windows were heavily shuttered. Girland moved into the room and Gilly followed him. He closed the door.

“This will do,” he said. “Come on... let’s go to bed.”

“I do wish we could get out of this awful place,” Gilly said as he led her over to the bed.

“You will tomorrow. Hungry?”

He felt her shudder in the darkness.

“No.”

“Lucky you... I am. Well, Dumas once said the man who sleeps, dines. So let’s go to sleep.”

“I couldn’t... I’m too scared.”

Girland stretched out on the bed and pulled her down beside him.

“It’s a pity you didn’t think of being scared when you made those films,” he said, sliding his arm around her. “Couldn’t you see you were sticking your neck out when you started this blackmail idea with your father... he’s a toughie if ever there was one.”

“I’d do it again!” Gilly said but without much conviction in her voice... She pulled away from him. “And stop nagging!”

“Sorry... I was forgetting you are a mature, well-balanced woman.”

“Oh, shut up! You madden me! Listen... suppose we go down to the count and tell him he can have the films and I promise not to make any more if he will let us go... suppose we do that?”