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She had ended with ’I can’t wait to et home Kate would be cross with him if she ever discovered he’d been out on his own in that cold wind But he had to see the opening of the shop and in any case tonight he would be with them all He must leave now and let them enjoy their celebrations They could tell hi over dinner He wouldn’t tell them he’d been there, that would always be his secret

He turned to go ho a few yards away in a black coat, with a hat pulled way down on his head, and a scarf around his neck He, too, was cold Not a night for old ht William, as he walked towards him And then he saw the silver band on his - wrist, just below his sleeve In a flash it all ca into place for the first time First the Plaza, then Boston, then Germany, and now Fifth Avenue, The man turned and started to walk towards hi time because his face was red from the wind He stared at William out of those unmistakable blue eyes

They were now only a few yards apart As they passed, William raised his hat to the old man He returned the compliment, and they continued on their separate ithout a word

I ht Williarandchildren would ain

He iveness, and trust that she would understand what he could scarcely under - stand hiirl, they all told hihth Street, he fumbled for his key and opened the front door Must tahts, he told the maid, and build the fire up to make them feel welcome He was very contented and very, very fired

’Draw the curtains,’ he said, ’and light the candles on the dining room table There’s so much to celebrate!

William couldn’t wait for them all to return He sat in the old criht happily of the evening that lay ahead of him Grandchildren around hirandson first said three? A chance to bury the past and earn forgiveness in the future The room was so nice and warm after that cold wind, but the journey had been hile

A few minutes later there was an excited bustle downstairs and the maid came in to tell William that his son had arrived He was in the hall with I - ,Lis mother, and his wife and two of the loveliest children the maid had ever seen And then she ran off to be sure that dinner would be ready for Mr Kane on tiht

When Richard came into the room, Florentyna was by his side She looked quite radiant

’Father,’ he said ’I would like you to meet reet them but he could not He was dead

42

Abel placed the envelope on the table by the side of his bed He hadn’t dressed yet Nowadays he rarely rose before noon He tried to remove his breakfast tray fro movement that demanded too mucli dexterity for his stiff body to acco It was no different today He no longer cared He picked up the envelope oncenote for second time

’We were instructed by the late Mr Curtis Fenton, soer of the Continental Trust Bank, La SaUe Street, Chicago, to send you the enclosed letter, when certain circue receipt of this letter by signing the enclosed copy, returning it to us in the stamped addressed envelope supplied herewith!

’Goddamn lawyers,’ said Abel, and tore open the letter Dear Mr Rosnovski: This letter has been in the keeping of my lawyers until today for reasons which will become apparent to you as you read on

952 When in 1951 you closed your accounts at the Continental Trust after over twenty years with the bank, I was naturally very unhappy and very concerned My concern was engendered not by losing one of the bank’s h that was, but because I know you felt that I had acted in a dishonourable fashion What you were not aware of at the time was that I had specific instructions from your backer not to reveal certain facts to you

When you first visited me at the bank in 1929, you requested financial help to clear the debt incurred by Mr, Davis Leroy, in order that you ht take possession of the hotels which then formed the Richmond Group

I was unable to find a backer, despite approaching several leading financiers myself I took a personal interest, as I believed that you had an exceptional flair for your chosen career It has given e that ht add at this point that I also felt so advised you to buy twenty - five per cent of the Richmond Group from my client, Miss Amy Leroy, when I did not know the financial predicaress