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“That’s all right then?”
“Quite, for the present”
Luscombe did not knohat to say to that Whilst he was considering what next to say, Elvira spoke Her words were simple and direct
“Have I any money?”
Again he took his tihtfully Then he said:
“Yes You’ve got quite a lot of money That is to say, you will have when you are twenty-one”
“Who has got it now?”
He smiled “It’s held in trust for you; a certain amount is deducted each year from the income to pay for your maintenance and education”
“And you are the trustee?”
“One of them There are three”
“What happens if I die?”
“Co to die What nonsense!”
“I hope not—but one never knows, does one? An airliner crashed only last week and everyone was killed”
“Well, it’s not going to happen to you,” said Luscombe firmly
“You can’t really know that,” said Elvira “I was just wondering ould get my money if I died?”
“I haven’t the least idea,” said the Colonel irritably “Why do you ask?”
“It htfully “I wondered if it would be worth anyone’s while to kill me”
“Really, Elvira! This is a most unprofitable conversation I can’t understand why your s”
“Oh Just ideas One wants to knohat the facts really are”
“You’re not thinking of the Mafia—or so like that?”
“Oh no That would be silly Who would get my money if I was married?”
“Your husband, I suppose But really—”
“Are you sure of that?”
“No, I’ of the Trust But you’re not married, so orry?”
Elvira did not reply She seeht Finally she came out of her trance and asked:
“Do you ever see my mother?”
“Sometimes Not very often”
“Where is she now?”
“Oh—abroad”
“Where abroad?”
“France—Portugal I don’t really know”
“Does she ever want to see me?”
Her liaze met his He didn’t knohat to reply Was this alie? What could you say to a girl who asked a question of such sireat complexity? He said unhappily:
“I don’t know”
Her eyes searched hi aAny girl would