"To whom or what shall we drink to?"

Von Till smiled. "You may have the honor, Major. Beautiful women…riches…a long life. Perhaps to the president of your country. The choice is yours."

Pitt took a deep breath. "In that case I propose a toast to the courage and flying skill of Kurt Heibert, The Hawk of Macedonia."

Von Till's face went blank. He slowly eased into a chair and toyed with his drink. "You are a very unusual man, Major. You pass yourself off as a garbage collector. You come to my villa and assault my chauffeur, and then you astound me further by proposing a toast to my old flying comrade, Kurt." He threw a sly grin over his drink at Pitt. "However, your most outstanding performance was in seducing my niece on the beach this morning. For that feat I congratulate and thank you. Today, for the first time in nine years, I saw Teri happily singing and laughing with an intense joy in living. I am afraid you force me to condone your lecherous conduct."

It was Pitt's turn to act surprised, but, instead he tossed his head back and laughed. "My apologies on every count, except slugging your perverted chauffeur. Willie had it coming."

"You should not blame poor Willie. He was only acting on my orders to follow and guard Teri. She is my only living relative and I wish no harm to come to her."

"What harm could possibly come to her?"

Von Till rose and walked to an open terrace window and looked out over the darkening sea. "Over half a century I have worked hard and paid a great personal price to build a substantial organization. Along the road I also accumulated a few enemies. I never know what one of them might do for revenge."

Pitt's eyes searched von Till. "Is that why you carry a Luger in a shoulder holster?"

Von Till turned from the window and self-consciously adjusted his white dinner jacket over the bulge beneath his left armpit. "May I ask how you know it is a Luger?"

"Just a guess," Pitt said. "You look like the Luger type."

Von Till shrugged. "Ordinarily I do not act quite so mundane, but for the way Teri described you I had every reason to suspect doubtful character."

"I must admit I've performed a few sinful deeds in my day," Pitt said, grinning. "But murder and extortion weren't included."

A scowl formed on von Till's face. "I do not think you would be so flippant if you…how do you Americans say…were in my shoes."

"Your shoes are beginning to sound very mysterious, Herr von Till," said Pitt. "Just what kind of business are you in?"