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Both men looked at Abel, who reratulate you, Your Excellency,’

said Sir Bernard ’I wish you every happiness in your new appointment’

Abel flushed to hear aloud the appellation he had whispered so often to his shaving et used to being called Your Excellency, you know,’ continued the British as than that, particularly all these damned functions you’ll be ht proble compared to the one you’ll have when you finish your terrateful for the Cold War It’s the one thing that ht keep your social life within bounds’

T11e American ambassador smiled ’Well done, Abel, and may I add my best wishes for your continued success When were you last in Poland?’he enquired

’I’ve only been back hoo,’ said Abel ’I’ve wanted to return ever since!

’Well, you will be returning in triumph,’ said Fletcher Warren ’Are you familiar with our embassy in Warsaw?’

’No, I’,’ said Sir Bernard ’Reet a foothold in Europe until after the Second World War But the food is appalling, I shall expect you to do so about that, Mr Rosnovski I’ for it is that you’ll have to build a Baron Hotel in Warsaw As ambassador, that’s the least they’ll expect fro and enjoying Sir Bernard’s feeble jokes He found he was drinking a little more port than usual and felt at ease with himself and the world He couldn’t wait to return to America and tell Florentyna his news, now that the appointment seemed to be official She would be so proud of him He decided then and there that the ht to San Francisco andup with her It hat he had wanted to do all along and now he had an excuse Somehow he’d force hi to him as ’the Kane boy What was his name - Richard? Yes, Richard Abel felt a sudden rush of relief at having made the decision

After the three men had returned to the main reception room and the ladies, Abel reached up and touched the British a back, Your Excellency!

’Back to the Baron,’ said Sir Bernard ’Allow me to accompany you to your car, oodnight at the door

’Goodnight, Lady Burrows, and thank you for a ’

She smiled ’I know I’ratulations on your appoint to the land of your birth as your country’s senior representative’

’I am,’ replied Abel simply

Sir Bernard accompanied hi car The chauffeur opened the door

’Goodnight, Rosnovski,’ said Sir Bernard, ’and good luck in Warsaw By the way, I hope you enjoyed your first meal in the British embassy’

’My second actually, Sir Bernard’

’You’ve been before, old boy? When we checked through the guest book we couldn’t find your name!

’No,’ said Abel ’Last time I had dinner in the British euest book down there, but the meal was the best I’d had in years!

Abel smiled as he climbed into the back of the car He could see that Sir Bernard wasn’t sure whether to believe hiers tapped on the side s, and he hummed to himself He would have liked to have returned to A, but he couldn’t cancel the invitation to dine with Fletcher Warren at the A Hardly the sort of thing a future a

Dinner with the American ambassador turned out to be another pleasant occasion Abel was uests how he had come to eat in the kitchens of the British embassy When he told them the truth, they looked on in surprised admiration He wasn’t sure if many of them believed the story of how he nearly lost his hand, but they all adht, everyone called himYour Excellency

Tle next day, Abel was up early, ready for his flight to Arounded for sixteen hours, waiting for the plane to be serviced Soear, they told him