There was the sound of skis being placed against the side of the hut. Then the outer door closed, there was a stamp of nailed boots and then the inner door opened and Jorgensen came in. His tall figure looked a little lithe and active in a white ski suit. His leathery features seemed darker than usual against the white of the snow that clung to him. He stopped and looked round the room — first at Jill and myself, then at Lovaas and his mate, finally at Dahler. 'Where is he?' he asked. Then he turned to me. 'You followed him, Mr Gansert. Did you catch up with him?'
'You mean Farnell?' I asked.
'Of course.'
'How did you know I followed him?'
'Norway is a small country for its size, Mr Gansert. I can keep track of anybody if I wish to. I see from your expression you were not successful.' He turned to Lovaas. 'So you did not obey my instructions, eh? I told you to await orders at Bovaagen Hval. But you decided to play your own hand. Well Kaptein Lovaas, play it. But be careful.' His voice was suddenly harsh. 'I am not a person to disregard — unless you are successful. And I don't think you have been successful.' He turned to me again, ignoring Dahler entirely. 'Where is Farnell now?'
'Somewhere out there,' I said indicating the snow-lined windows.
He nodded. 'Aurland, Osterbo, Gjeiteryggen, Sankt Paal.' He spoke the names softly as though to himself. 'Then he will make for the railway. Good.' He nodded as though satisfied with his arrangements. Then he turned to Dahler. 'I should advise you to leave the country. Leave with Mr Gansert.'
'Are you having me thrown out?' I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. 'Good heavens, no,' he answered with pained surprise. 'But now that your mission has failed you will naturally wish to go back to England — to start on your Mediterranean trip. I do not imagine Sir Clinton Mann will finance you indefinitely in Norway. Had you been successful in your mission — ' He shrugged his shoulders. Then it would have been different. Then we might have been business associates. As it is — ' He left the rest of the sentence unfinished.
'But you will still need finance,' I said.