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“Or double-bluffing”

“Ainia “There’s so I need to do”

“Why not? I can’t see the jury returning before this afternoon”

45

HARRY HADN’T EXPECTED a chauffeur-driven car to take him to the airport, and he was even more surprised when he saho the chauffeur was

“I just want to et on the plane,” said Colonel Marinkin

“How very considerate of you, colonel,” said Harry, forgetting to remain in character

“Don’t get clever with me, Mr Clifton The railway station is closer than the airport, and it’s not too late for you to join Babakov on a journey that won’t have a return ticket for another twelve years”

“But I signed the confession,” said Harry, trying to sound conciliatory

“Which I know you’ll be glad to hear has already been released to every leading newspaper in the West from the New York Ties before you touch down at Heathrow, so even if you did try to deny it—”

“I can assure you, colonel, that, unlike St Peter, there will be no need forI saw Babakov for what he was And in any case, an Englishman’s word is his bond”

“I’lad to hear that,” said the colonel, as he accelerated on to the motorway and put his foot hard down Within seconds the indicator was touching a hundredon to the dashboard as the colonel nipped in and out of the traffic, and for the first tihtened As they passed the Her, “Have you ever visited the Here, Mr Clifton?”

“No,” said Harry, “but I’ve alanted to”

“Pity, because now you never will,” said the colonel as he overtook a couple of lorries

Harry only began to relax when the airport terht, and the colonel slowed to sixty He hoped his plane would take off before the first editions hit the streets, otherwise he ht still be on that train to Siberia, and as he couldn’t hope to get through custoht be a close-run thing