‘Yes.’
‘You are a friend of his per’aps — from the war?’
‘Yes,‘I said.‘Why?’
‘And he know you are coming to Milano?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Then per’aps all is not lost.’
‘Look,’ I said. ‘Do you mind telling me what this is all about?’
‘Very well. I tell you. I am a business friend of Signer Tucek. Things are very bad for him in Czechoslovakia. He intend to leave the country and we are going into business together with a new factory’ ere in Milano. I am expecting him ‘ere for three days now. But he do not arrive. I am very worried, Signer Farrell.’
‘What’s this got to do with me?’ I asked him.
‘I tell you. We are to start a new business together. He is bringing with him specifications of some new types of machines we are to produce. On Friday I receive a letter from him to say that he will not bring them himself. It is too dangerous. He give them to an Englishman who fly to Milano the next day. I have checked with the airport, Signer Farrell. You are the only Englishman who arrives from Czechoslovakia since I receive his letter.’