‘I would like to see Mr. Tucek before I go.’
‘I am sorry. That is not possible.’ He gave me a rubber-stamp smile.
‘Then I’ll wait until he’s free,’ I said.
‘It is not possible for you to see pan Tucek to-day.’ His eyes were quite blank.
I felt as though I were up against a stone wall. ‘You mean he’s not here?’ I asked.
‘I have told you, Mr. Farrell. It is impossible for you to see him.’ He crossed to the door and opened it. ‘I am sorry. We are very busy to-day.’
I thought of Maxwell’s strange visit the previous night. It’s urgent, Dick — very, very urgent, ‘Whether you are busy or not,’ I said, ‘I wish to see Mr. Tucek. Will you please tell him.’
The man’s eyes stared at me without blinking. ‘Why are you so anxious to see pan Tucek?’ he asked.
‘I was with him in the most critical days of our fight against the Germans,’ I said. ‘I am not in the habit of leaving a town without saying good-bye to old friends.’ I realised that I’d got to get under the cold official to the man beneath. ‘You are his personal secretary,’ I said. ‘You must have fought against the Germans. Surely you can understand that I want to see him before I leave?’
For an instant his eyes had warmth and feeling. Then they were quite blank again. ‘I am sorry. You cannot see pan Tucek to-day.’