The Saint grinned.
"I just buzzed over to Reading to look up a friend," he said untruthfully."I like your helicopter. Let us goinside and talk business."
When he returned to Patricia, much later that day, he was jubilant but mysterious. He spent most of the next day with Mr. Newdick, and half of the Saturday which came after, but he refused to tell her what he was doing. It was not until that evening, when he was pouring beer once more for Monty Hayward, that he mentioned Mr. Newdick again; and then his announcement took her breath away.
"I've bought that helicopter company," he said casually.
"You've what?" spluttered Monty.
"I've bought that helicopter company and everything it owns," said the Saint, "for forty thousand pounds."
They gaped at him for a while in silence, while he calmly continued with the essential task of opening bottles.
"The man's mad," said Patricia finally. "I always thought so."
"When did you do this?" asked Monty.
"We fixed up the last details of the deal today," said the Saint. "Oscar is due here at any minute to sign the papers."