Read Online Come into my Parlour by Dennis Wheatley - Free Book Online Page A

British Government want me to go out to assess Russia’s capacity for remaining in the war. As long as they have any doubt about that they’re bound to play for safety, but once satisfied they could take all sorts of risks which should have the effect of bringing about the final defeat of Germany very much sooner. So if you can help me to prove that your beliefs are correct you’ll be rendering a great service to your own country.”
    â€œIn that case,
mon vieux
, I am your man. My countrymen have a habit of giving short shrift to people whom they catch trying to find out their secrets, so we shall have to be very, very careful; but that is all the more reason, knowing something of their methods, that I should go with you.”
    â€œBless you, Stefan.” Gregory linked his arm affectionately through that of the Russian. “I honestly think I’d funk this job on my own, but with you to help me the chances of getting back to Gwaine Meads again are increased a thousandfold.”
    â€œWhen do we leave?”
    â€œWe catch the morning train to London on Monday and dine with Sir Pellinore that night. After that it will be up to him; but he can get all sorts of things done in a few days that take other people months. So if I telephone to him at lunch time that you’ve agreed to play he’ll probably have your naturalisation papers pushed through over theweekend. It would be as well, I think, to anglicise your name at the same time. Fewer questions are likely to be asked if the passport is issued to Mr. Stephen Cooper.”
    â€œYes, that is sound. I fear though that the little Madeleine will take my departure badly.”
    â€œSo will Erika; but they both know that we’re not the sort of chaps to sit at home indefinitely while there’s a war on, and at rock bottom they wouldn’t think much of us if we did. After all, we’re lucky to have had a month here; but I suggest that we shouldn’t say anything about our being off again till Sunday night.”
    â€œI agree. Then the prospect of parting will not shadow our last weekend here, and we’ll do our damnedest to make it a super good one.”
    â€œThat’s it,” Gregory laughed. “Let’s eat, drink and be merry while we may. What about a visit to the peach houses, to collect some fruit for lunch?”
    That night and for the two days that followed they lived up to their intention and nobody but the two girls who loved them would have suspected that they had a care in the world, but perhaps it was their grasping with such fresh zest at every pleasure that offered which made both Madeleine and Erika slightly uneasy.
    In consequence, when Gregory took Erika out on to the terrace after dinner on the Sunday night and said: “I’ve got some news for you,” she replied at once:
    â€œI know, darling. You’re going abroad again, aren’t you?”
    â€œSo you guessed,” he smiled, and picking her up sat her on the stone balustrade, so that her golden head came nearly level with his own.
    â€œIt wasn’t very difficult.” She put a soft arm around his neck, “Your going up to London on Thursday, and then your love-making having been so hectic ever since.”
    His tight-lipped mouth twisted into a grin that brought deep furrows each side of it to his lean cheeks. “So I overdid it, eh?”
    â€œNo, my sweet. You could never overdo making love to me, but that’s how I guessed.”
    â€œWell, there it is. As a matter of fact I had two pieces of news for you and I’ve a penny here still clutched in one hand. I was going to ask you to guess which fist it was in, and if you’d picked the one with the penny you’d have had the good news first. Still, you beat me to it and know the worst now. I’m off on my travels again tomorrow morning.”
    â€œIs it—is it Germany?” she asked, with a little catch in her voice.
    â€œNo.