“I’ll pinch it if necessary. We go for a drive in it every morning — the people in the hotel garage know me.”
“Good for you,” Richard smiled. “But won’t they stop you at the frontier?”
“Um — perhaps, still you know what Napoleon said about the Rubicon and the Vistula!”
Richard laughed. “You’re a bit mixed in your history, old chap; but I agree. If only we can get them out the Pecher-Lavra that’s half the battle. Look here, I’d better leave you now, I don’t want Valeria Petrovna to find me here, and don’t let on to her for the moment that you know the truth about Rex and the Duke.”
Simon nodded, sadly. “No, I won’t do that yet I want to think about what I’m going to do myself first. When shall I see you again?”
“When’s the best time?”
“Tomorrow, about twelve. She’s giving a special show at the theatre tomorrow night as she is in Kiev, and she’s rehearsing in the morning. I shall be alone then.”
“Good. With any luck I’ll be able to tell you then if I’ve succeeded in fixing anything. I’ll be able to see Zakar Shubin again tonight and ask him about this Yakovkin, or rather, my beautiful wife will!”
“Your what?”
“Oh, of course I haven’t told you.” Richard looked a little sheepish. “I married Marie Lou. It was the only way for her to return here safely, and I couldn’t have done much without her.”