Chapter 5

           ThetelephonecallfromRayCalvinpuzzledWyndam-Matson.Hecouldnotmakesenseoutofit,partlybecauseofCalvin’srapidmannerofspeechandpartlybecauseatthemomentthecallcame—eleven-thirtyintheevening—Wyndam-MatsonwasentertainingaladyvisitorinhisapartmentattheMuromachiHotel.

           Calvinsaid,"Lookhere,myfriend,we’resendingbackthatwholelastshipmentfromyoupeople.AndI’dsendbackstuffbeforethat,butwe’vepaidforeverythingexceptthelastshipment.YourbillingdateMayeighteenth."

           Naturally,Wyndam-Matsonwantedtoknowwhy.

           "They’relousyfakes,"Calvinsaid.

           "Butyouknewthat."Hewasdumbfounded."Imean,Ray,you’vealwaysbeenawareofthesituation."Heglancedaround;thegirlwasoffsomewhere,probablyinthepowderroom.

           Calvinsaid,"Iknewtheywerefakes.I’mnottalkingaboutthat.I’mtalkingaboutthelousypart.Look,I’mreallynotconcernedwhethersomegunyousendusreallywasusedintheCivilWarornot;allIcareaboutisthatit’sasatisfactoryColt.44,itemwhatever-it-isinyourcatalog:Ithastomeetstandards.Look,doyouknowwhoRobertChildanis?"

           "Yes."Hehadavaguememory,althoughatthemomenthecouldnotquitepinthenamedown.Somebodyimportant.

           "Hewasinheretoday.Tomyoffice.I’mcallingfrommyoffice,nothome;we’restillgoingoverit.Anyhow,hecameinandrattledoffsomelongaccount.Hewasmadashell.Reallyagitated.Well,evidentlysomebigcustomerofhis,someJapadmiral,cameinorhadhismancomein.