George felt himself beginning to be irritated by her. “Shall we sit down somewhere and talk, Miss Kolin?”
“Of course.”
He led the way across the foyer to some comfortable chairs near the bar. She followed a little too slowly. His irritation increased. She might be an attractive woman, but there was no reason for her to behave as if she were fending off a clumsy attempt at seduction. She was here about a job. Did she want it or didn’t she? If she didn’t, why waste time by coming at all?
“Now, Miss Kolin,” he said as they sat down, “how much did the Embassy people tell you about this job?”
“That you were going to Germany to interview various persons there in connection with a lawsuit. That you would want verbatim reports of the interviews transcribed. That it might be necessary to attend later at an American Embassy to have these transcriptions notarized. The length of time for which you would require me would be not less than one month and not more than three. I should receive my normal fees on a monthly basis, and all travelling and hotel expenses would be paid in addition.” She looked past him again, her head held high-a lady of quality importuned by a lascivious workman.
“Yes that’s about right,” George said. “Did they tell you which lawsuit it was?”
“They said that it was a highly confidential matter and that you would no doubt explain what it was necessary for me to know.” A faint, indifferent smile-men are such children with their little secrets.
“Right. What passport do you have, Miss Kolin?”
“French.”
“I understood you were a Yugoslav citizen.”