|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 60
I smiled at this bizarre speech.
"This Eichenholz, now," I said, "... supposing he were my brother."
"He might congratulate himself," Kore said, blinking his little lizard
eyes.
"And he sent me word to call and see you to find out his whereabouts.
You seem to like riddles, Herr Kore.... I will read you one!"
And I read him the message from Francis ... all but the first two lines.
The little Jew beamed with delight.
"Ach! that is bright!" he cried, "oi, oi, oi, but he is smart, this Herr
Eichenholz! Who'd have thought of that? Brilliant, brilliant!"
"As you say, Herr Kore, enquiry agents must live, and I am quite
prepared to pay for the information I require...."
I pulled out my portfolio as I spoke.
"The matter is quite simple," Kore replied. "It is already arranged. The
charge is five hundred marks. My client said to me the last time I saw
him, 'Kore,' he said, 'if one should come asking news of me you will
give him the word and he will pay you five hundred marks.'"
"The word?" I said.
"The word," he repeated.
"You must take Dutch money," I said. "Here you are ... work it out in
gulden ... and I'll pay!"
He manipulated a stump of pencil on a writing block and I paid him his
money.
Then he said:
"Boonekamp!"
"Boonekamp?" I echoed stupidly.
"That's the word," the little Jew chuckled, laughing at my dumbfounded
expression, "and, if you want to know, I understand it as little as you
do."
"But ... Boonekamp," I repeated. "Is it a man's name, a place? It sounds
Dutch. Have you no idea? ... come, I'm ready to pay."
"Perhaps ..." the Jew began.
"What? Perhaps what?" I exclaimed impatiently.
"Possibly...."
"Out with it, man!" I cried, "and say what you mean."
"Perhaps, if I could render to the gentleman the service I rendered to
his brother, I might be able to throw light...."
"What service did you render to my brother?" I demanded hastily. "I'm in
the dark."
"Has the gentleman no little difficulty perhaps? ... about his military
service, about his papers? The gentleman is young and strong ... has he
been to the front? Was life irksome there? Did he ever long for the
sweets of home life? Did he never envy those who have been medically
rejected? The rich men's sons, perhaps, with clever fathers who know how
to get what they want?"
His little eyes bored into mine like gimlets.
I began to understand.
"And if I had?"
"Then all old Kore can say is that the gentleman has come to the right
shop, as his gracious brother did. How can we serve the gentleman now?
What are his requirements? It is a difficult, a dangerous business. It
costs money, much money, but it can be arranged ... it can be arranged."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|