Von Till was on his feet in an instant, his oval face contorted with anger. "You have probed too far and too deep, Major Pitt, into areas that don't concern you. I shall take no more of your absurd implications. I must ask you to leave my villa."

A look of contempt crossed Pitt's face. "Whatever's fair," he said, turning to the stairway.

Von Till glared at him bitterly. "No need to return through the study, Major," he said, pointing to a small doorway that clung to the far wall of the balcony. "This corridor will lead you to the front entrance."

"I'd like to see Teri before I leave."

"I see no reason to prolong your presence." Von Till blew a contemptuous cloud of smoke toward Pitt's face, driving home the angered words. "I also demand that you never see or talk to my niece again."

Pitt's hand clenched into fists. "And if I do?"

Von Till smiled menacingly. "I will not threaten you, Major. If you persist in exercising aggressive stupidity, I shall merely punish Teri."

"You rotten shit-eating kraut," Pitt snarled, fighting down a surging urge to kick von Till in the crotch. "I don't know what the hell your little conspiracy amounts to, but I can definitely go on record as stating that I'll take great personal pleasure in screwing it up. And I can begin by telling you that the attack on Brady Field failed to achieve its intention. The National Underwater Marine Agency's ship is staying right where it's anchored until its scientific research activities are completed."

Von Till's hands trembled but his face remained impassive. "Thank you, Major. That is a bit of information I did not expect quite so soon."

At last, the old kraut is dropping his guard, Pitt thought. There could be no doubt about it now, it was von Till who had plotted to get rid of the First Attempt. But why? The question still remained unanswered. Pitt tried a shot in the dark. "You're wasting your time, von Till. The divers of the First Attempt have already discovered the sunken treasure. They're in the act of raising it now."

Von Till broke out in a broad smile, and Pitt knew immediately the lie was a mistake.

"A very poor attempt, Major. You could not be more wrong."

He drew the Luger from under his armpit and pointed the dark blue barrel at Pitt's neck. Then he opened the corridor door. "If you please?" he said, beckoning with the gun toward the threshold.

Pitt took a quick glance through the darkened doorway. The corridor beyond was dimly lighted with candles and seemed completely deserted. He hesitated. "Please express my thanks to Teri for the excellent dinner."

"I shall pass on your compliment."

"And thank you, Herr von Till," Pitt said sarcastically, "for your hospitality."