Page 19 (1/2)

"I must say, Professor, ere curious about that hefty donation I’ht of teachers and scholars being much as we believe ourselves to be--woefully underpaid"

"I a," Dubois said icily "I live very plainly, as you can see"

"The house is quite enchanting," Javet said, slanced around

"The house is quite old, and felling down around my ears," Dubois snapped back

"Ah, well, then, I had hoped there , please call"

Javet nodded politely, turned, and left by the door which was just at his back, since Dubois had positioned hi in farther

When Javet was gone, Dubois leaned against the door, his heart beating too quickly, his palms sweaty

He swore Javet was an ass But he was trouble Pure trouble

As was the American Dubois smiled The American was a problem that could be solved He just had to say the word

Feeling better with that thought in e ood Russian vodka

Yet as he stood at the , his heart began to sink His ulp he finished off the double shot before turning

He kneas not alone

His visitor stood at the door to the kitchen and stared at him contemptuously "You fucked up, Dubois

You fucked up--and you’re going to pay for it"

Dubois’s glass fell to the floor as his visitor took a step toward hi

Tara had done her best to listen, to pretend that she believed, that she understood But he had seen her expression--one that she hadn’t been able to hide when he expressed his belief regarding the murder--and he had ilish and switched to French, speaking so quickly and so wildly that she hadn’t begun to understand what he had been saying

And fear had set in

Her grandfather was losing his sanity He was such a wonderful man, and he had cherished his ability to think and reason all his life

To think that his

It was horrible

But in time she did calm him She convinced him that she would keep an open mind She assured hi without ever having to say that she had been there when theto feel safe in the city of Paris, and in the little village where she was staying She had sworn that though she found his words impossible to believe, she would keep an openafter, she sat out on her balcony She wondered whether or not to tell Ann about the incident, then knew that she couldn’t betray Jacques She had to pray that the police would find the murderer quickly

That would set his mind at rest

She worried that perhaps shell shock was setting in, now that he had returned to Europe after having been in the States so long It had been on the front here that he had fought, a special Resistance fighter with the Allied troops Perhaps he needed to talk to sohter who doted on him and was involved so deeply and emotionally

As she worried, Katia caht and cheerful, swept away in the workaday world "Meetings, s about when to schedule s!" Ann told her "But do you knohat? Despite what has happened, we’re going to go out I have one of those special little shock weapons, you know Long ago, Grandpapa insisted I carry it And then I have mace, as well--which your father insisted I carry"

"Yes, I know He insisted I have it in New York, as well," Tara said

"The really big city"

"Paris is a pretty big city"

"Of course, but on’t exactly be in Paris tonight

We’ll stick close to hoo out?"

"No"

"Good! I need a few drinks A few laughs And maybe a few dances with a handsome man Or, at least, a eezer-- or young one--will do Listen, I’ late, so I’ll just breeze by, beep the horn, and you’ll coo to La Guerre--it’s just in town, not too far fro near the church, that is"