I remembered how the light had been off when I woke and how Jan Tucek had said he’d come to see me at the hotel. But if he had come, why the devil hadn’t he wakened me? I could have given him Maxwell’s message then. The porter was peering up at me uncertainly. ‘Pana must understand that I have to report everything of an unusual nature to the Party, particularly if it concerns an Englishman or an American.’ His lips tightened into a smile. ‘But life is difficult here in Czechoslovakia. I have a wife and family to think of, pane. Sometimes economics are more important than Party loyalties. You understand, panel’
‘Perfectly,’ I said. He was like a small sparrow searching determinedly after scraps in a cold spell. I pulled out my wallet and slipped him fifty kronen.
‘Dekuji uctive. Dekuji.’ The notes disappeared into his trouser pocket. ‘I remember now. It is just as pana says. There was no visitor at one o’clock this morning.’
He was turning away when I stopped him. ‘Did you show this visitor up yourself?’
‘Oh no, pane. He walk straight through the entrance and up the stairs. I know he is not a resident, so I follow him. It is expected of me.’
‘Quite,’ I said. ‘And you recognised this person?’
‘Oh, yes, pane.’ Then he smiled. ‘But, of course — no, pane. I do not recognise him any more now. I do not know to which room he go.’ He smirked and with a little bow, turned and walked quickly out through the hotel entrance.
I went through into the breakfast room. After several cigarettes and innumerable cups of black coffee I had got no nearer a solution of the matter. The porter wasn’t lying. I was certain of that. He had been far too sure of getting a fat tip. But if Tucek had come to see me so late at night, he must have had a reason, and an important one. Then why didn’t he wake me?
The problem was with me all that morning. I took a couple of aspirins to clear my head and went out into the bright spring sunshine. The buds shone fat and sticky on the smoke-black chestnut trees across the road. Birds were singing above the rattle of the trams and girls were wearing summer frocks. I paid three calls during the morning and did some business. When I got back to the hotel I was relieved to find that Marie had rung me. I was to call and see him at three-thirty. I could deliver my message to Tucek then.
At the Tucek works I was escorted by one of the factory police to the main office block. Maric had two of his technical experts with him. We discussed specifications. From a business point of view the meeting was successful. When the conference broke up, I remained seated. Maric glanced at me through his thick glasses. He got rid of the others very quickly and then, when the door was shut, he turned to me and said in English, ‘You wish to see me alone, Mr. Farrell?’