Джеймс Чейз - I Hold the Four Aces

Grenville moved uneasily.

‘I do have talents, but I have never been able to make money. This would only bring unhappiness to both of us. Let us enjoy these few moments of bliss, then I’ll go. I honestly...’

‘Chris! Pull yourself together! You are talking like a goddamn ham actor,’ Helga said sharply. ‘Your dialogue is utter corn. We are talking about love, not money!’ She looked fixedly at him. ‘I love you! Now tell me: do you love me?’

Into Grenville’s mind flashed the thought: God! This woman is dangerous! All the other old bitches I fed that talk to lapped it up. Here, she is telling me I’m talking corn!

‘Love you? Can you ask?’ His fertile brain was working furiously. ‘I think you are the most marvellous...’

‘Never mind that!’ Helga snapped. ‘I want to know: do you or don’t you love me?’

Grenville drew in a deep breath. He realized he was trapped, and there was no way out.

‘Helga, darling, I love you.’

Helga studied him for a few moments while he gave her his most sincere expression, then she relaxed back in her chair and smiled at him.

‘Then we have no problem. It’s time we had a drink.’ She reached out for the bell push on the table and pressed it.

Hinkle appeared on the terrace, carrying a silver tray on which stood a big shaker and two glasses. As he set the tray on the table, he said, ‘Perhaps Mr. Grenville would prefer something else. This is vodka martini, madame.’

‘Fine with me,’ Grenville said, and how he now longed for a drink!

As Hinkle poured, he said, ‘Dinner will be in half an hour, madame.’

‘What are you giving us?’ Helga asked, taking the glass he offered.

‘It has been a little rushed, madame, but tonight, pâté de foie gras and chicken à la King.’

Helga looked at Grenville.

‘You could have a steak if you would prefer it.’

‘Oh, no. Hinkle’s menu sounds perfect.’

Hinkle inclined his head.

‘Then in half an hour, madame. As it is a fine evening, you will prefer, no doubt, to dine on the terrace.’

‘Lovely!’

While Hinkle set the table, neither Helga nor Grenville talked. They sat watching the sun slowly sink, sipping their drinks.

When Hinkle returned to the kitchen, Helga said, ‘We will have a serious talk after dinner, Chris. Let’s forget it for now,’ and she went on to discuss what they would do the following day. ‘It would be fun to drive up into the mountains. There is an amusing little bistro where we can lunch. It would give Hinkle time to rest. I am sure he will give us one of his wonderful omelettes for supper.’

Grenville said that would be fine. He was now depressed. He found Helga overpowering. At least, he told himself, he had hinted at marriage, and that was what Archer wanted him to do.

With Hinkle hovering over them, they ate an excellent dinner. Then they moved from the table and sat in lounging chairs, looking at the lake, now like a silver mirror in the moonlight.

Hinkle served coffee and brandy and then cleared the table.

‘Hinkle! Go to bed!’ Helga said. ‘We have everything we need. Mr. Grenville will lock up. You must be very tired.’

‘Thank you, madame, if you are sure there is nothing further, then I will retire.’

‘Nothing, and thank you for a wonderful dinner. Have a good night’s rest.’

‘And I trust you will too, madame,’ Hinkle said and carried the tray into the kitchen.

‘I really don’t know what I would do without him,’ Helga said. ‘He is part of my life.’

‘Yes.’ Grenville lit a cigarette. ‘I can well imagine.’

There was a pause, then Helga said, ‘Let us now talk seriously about ourselves, Chris. Let us be absolutely frank. I will begin. I married Herman for what I could get out of him. He was a cripple and impotent with not a shred of kindness in him. He wanted a good-looking, clever hostess to run his various establishments, and I fitted his requirements. There was to be no cheating, but I did cheat. I have this thing which is a curse. I need a man.’ She smiled at him and patted his hand. ‘I am so sick of sordid affairs I want a permanent man. I have never been in love before, but I am now... with you.’

Startled by her frankness, Grenville said, ‘I love you too, Helga, but there is this thing in me that will not allow me to live on a woman. You are too rich.’

‘All right, I have to respect that,’ Helga said. ‘Now tell me something: if I gave all my money away, would you marry me?’

Grenville stared at her.

‘But you couldn’t possibly do such a thing!’

‘Never mind what I could or couldn’t do!’ Again there was a snap in her voice. ‘The question is would you marry me if I had the same amount of money as you had?’

Again feeling trapped, Grenville touched her hand.

‘Of course I would.’

She smiled at him.

‘Don’t look so worried. I am not going to do anything so stupid as to give away my husband’s magic key. It unlocks so many doors. So... as I don’t intend to descend to your financial level, you must ascend to mine. If you were worth five million dollars which you had earned and which belonged to you, would you marry me?’

Grenville ran his fingers through his hair.

‘Helga! Do stop this! I could never make five million dollars!’

‘I will show you how you could make them.’

Grenville stared incredulously at her.

‘How?’

‘By using your talents. I will make you a senior partner in my corporation. We are setting up a factory in France, and then in Germany. With your flair, your appearance and your languages you could handle the deals. You would have accountants, experts and assistants, but you would control the deals. You would become a stockholder, and you would be on a percentage basis. I promise you, this would be no gift. You will earn every dollar you make, but I know, in three or four years’ time, you would be worth five million dollars. I would lend you this money at six per cent interest. It would be yours.’ She smiled at him. ‘We could get married tomorrow.’

The very thought of working in an office with Helga, driving him on, with accountants and experts crowding him, made Grenville inwardly shudder.

‘It’s wonderful of you, Helga, but frankly, I couldn’t cope. It’s not my thing,’ he said earnestly. ‘It is a marvellous offer, but...’

‘Of course, you could cope with it!’ There was now steel in Helga’s voice. ‘You would have me behind you, and the whole of my organization. We could have marvellous fun.’

Then Grenville remembered Archer’s advice: love her.

‘This is terribly exciting, Helga.’ He got to his feet. ‘Would you let me think about it? May we sleep on it? I’m almost convinced, as long as you would be with me to help me, but seeing you, in the moonlight, looking so lovely, I want to love you.’

‘Oh, Chris!’ Helga gave him her hand. ‘Yes, let’s make love.’

He put his arm around her, and together they walked across the terrace into the living-room.

‘Darling, will you close the shutters? I’ll be waiting for you. Hurry!’

As Grenville wound down the shutters, Helga walked happily to her bedroom.

At exactly 08.30, the following morning, Hinkle entered Helga’s bedroom, pushing the breakfast trolley before him. As he began to draw the curtains, Helga came awake, and immediately became aware that Grenville was not at her side.

‘Where is Mr. Grenville?’ she asked sharply.

‘He is taking a swim, madame.’

‘Oh.’ Helga relaxed. She sat up in bed and fluffed up her hair. ‘Coffee! You are always so punctual, Hinkle.’

‘Yes, madame. It is a beautiful morning. I trust you slept well.’