Read Online The Godson by Robert G. Barrett - Free Book Online Page A

don’t know what anybody told you before you left. But I’m not supposed to let you out of my sight the whole time you’re here.’
    â€˜Then you can jolly well sleep on the floor of my room at the Sebel if you like,’ replied Peregrine. ‘But I am
not
staying in that… kip.’
    â€˜Okay. Suit yourself,’ shrugged Norton.
    In silence they arrived at the Sebel Town House. Les parked the car, picked up Peregrine’s suitcase and followed him up the red-carpeted, marble steps of the Sebel into the rich brown carpeting and cedar panelling of arguably the finest hotel in Sydney.
    â€˜Yes, sir. May I help you?’ asked the smiling young man at the reception desk.
    â€˜I’d like a room please,’ said Peregrine, ignoring Les taking in the luxury and elegance of the surroundings.
    â€˜Certainly, sir. Anything in particular you have in mind?’
    â€˜Your best.’
    â€˜Well, sir. The Presidential Suite is taken. So is The Hardy Aimes Split Level and the Penthouse. The Sir Robert Helpmann is available at $700 a night.’
    Peregrine pulled out his wallet and produced a Gold American express card. ‘Tuesday morning we’re going to this North Coast of yours, is it, Les?’ Norton nodded blankly. ‘Good.’ Peregrine turned back to the desk clerk. ‘Then I shall take the Sir Robert Helpmann for two nights.’
    â€˜Yes, sir. Certainly, sir. What name is it please?’
    â€˜Normanhurst. Sir Peregrine Normanhurst. The Third.’
    Visibly impressed, the desk clerk began filling in the appropriate paperwork. Norton, also impressed, looked on in silence. Christ! he thought. Seven hundred bananas a night. This pommy cunt might be a snob but Jesus, he’s sure got some style. Wouldn’t Price love him?
    The desk clerk summoned a porter who seemed to materialise out of thin air. ‘Room 1012,’ he said briefly.
    The porter almost snapped to attention. ‘This way, sir,’ he said to Peregrine. Les went to say something but Peregrine cut him off. ‘Now, Les,’ he said, with icy politeness. ‘I am going to my room. Alone, by myself, without you. I am going to have a light meal, a bottle of champers and in two hours I intend to have about fifteen hours sleep. Nothing will happen to me tonight. And I do not wish to be disturbed. May I suggest you do something similar and I shall see you on the morrow. Good day to you, sir.’ Leaving Norton standing there, Sir Peregrine Normanhurst III followed the porter into the lift. He didn’t look at Les as he waited for the doors to close.
    Well, how about that, thought Norton as the lift doors swished shut leaving him standing in the foyer. And good day to you too, sir. You pommy prick. Still, he mused, if I had a bundle of dough and the choice between my place and staying here I think I know what I’d take. Then a more disturbing thought occurred to him. Shit! I’d better ring Price and let him know what’s going on.
    Price had his answering service on. He didn’t leave a message but rang Eddie instead. Eddie’s phone didn’t answer, so Les rang Price again, leaving a message to say where Peregrine was and everything was sweet. Oh well, nothing much else I can do now and Peregrine should be all right here, surely to Christ. It’s as safe as a bank and he’s only been in the country five minutes. He looked at his watch. Just on six. Couple of beers’d go down well. He got in his car and headed home.
    Instead of going straight home, however, Norton headed down to Woolloomooloo. The crowd spilling out onto the footpath in Cowper Wharf Drive and a thumping version of ‘Pretty Woman’ coming from the Woolloomooloo Hotel told Les The Eddys were revving up for another Sunday at the ‘Loo’. Yeah, why not? There was a parking spot not far from the pub. Les pulled in and joined the crowd; in no time he’d found some people he