‘I can’t remember the exact words, Rollo – I may call you Rollo, mayn’t I? he always called you that to us. He was anxious that I should look after you when you arrived. See that you were looked after. Get your return ticket for you.’ In telling me, Martins said, ‘You see I was collecting return tickets as well as cash.’

‘But why didn’t you cable to stop me?’

‘We did, but the cable must have missed you. What with censorship and the zones, cables can take anything up to five days.’

‘There was an inquest?’

‘Of course.’

‘Did you know that the police have a crazy notion that Harry was mixed up in some racket?’

‘No. But everyone in Vienna is. We all sell cigarettes and exchange schillings for bafs and that kind of thing. You won’t find a single member of the Control Commission who hasn’t broken the rules.’

‘The police meant something worse than that.’

‘They get rather absurd ideas sometimes,’ the man with the toupée said cautiously.

‘I’m going to stay here till I prove them wrong.’

Kurtz turned his head sharply and the toupée shifted very very slightly. He said, ‘What’s the good? Nothing can bring Harry back.’

‘I’m going to have that police officer run out of Vienna.’

‘I don’t see what you can do.’

‘I’m going to start working back from his death. You were there and this man Cooler and the chauffeur. You can give me their addresses.’

‘I don’t know the chauffeur’s.’

‘I can get it from the coroner’s records. And then there’s Harry’s girl …’

Kurtz said, ‘It will be painful for her.’

‘I’m not concerned about her. I’m concerned about Harry.’

‘Do you know what it is that the police suspect?’

‘No. I lost my temper too soon.’

‘Has it occurred to you,’ Kurtz said gently, ‘that you might dig up something – well, discreditable to Harry?’

‘I’ll risk that.’

‘It will take a bit of time – and money.’

‘I’ve got time and you were going to lend me some money, weren’t you?’

‘I’m not a rich man,’ Kurtz said. ‘I promised Harry to see you were all right and that you got your plane back …’

‘You needn’t worry about the money – or the plane,’ Martins said. ‘But I’ll make a bet with you – in pounds sterling – five pounds against two hundred schillings – that there’s something queer about Harry’s death.’