Chapter 10

           Attwoo’clockthatnightthephonewokeNicoleandsheheardDickansweritfromwhattheycalledtherestlessbed,inthenextroom.

           "Oui,oui...maisàquiest-ce-quejeparle?...Oui..."Hisvoicewokeupwithsurprise."ButcanIspeaktooneoftheladies,SirtheOfficer?Theyarebothladiesoftheveryhighestprominence,ladiesofconnectionsthatmightcausepoliticalcomplicationsofthemostserious....Itisafact,Isweartoyou....Verywell,youwillsee."

           Hegotupand,asheabsorbedthesituation,hisself-knowledgeassuredhimthathewouldundertaketodealwithit—theoldfatalpleasingness,theoldforcefulcharm,sweptbackwithitscryof"Useme!"Hewouldhavetogofixthisthingthathedidn’tcareadamnabout,becauseithadearlybecomeahabittobeloved,perhapsfromthemomentwhenhehadrealizedthathewasthelasthopeofadecayingclan.Onanalmostparalleloccasion,backinDohmler’sclinicontheZurichsee,realizingthispower,hehadmadehischoice,chosenOphelia,chosenthesweetpoisonanddrunkit.Wantingabovealltobebraveandkind,hehadwanted,evenmorethanthat,tobeloved.Soithadbeen.Soitwouldeverbe,hesaw,simultaneouslywiththeslowarchaictinklefromthephoneboxasherangoff.

           Therewasalongpause.Nicolecalled,"Whatisit?Whoisit?"

           Dickhadbeguntodressevenashehungupthephone.

           "It’sthepostedepoliceinAntibes—they’reholdingMaryNorthandthatSibley-Biers.