Codeword Golden Fleece Read online

  At half past eight the three of them set out for the Rumanian magnate’s great mansion on the Chaussée Kisseleff, and on their way the Duke said in a low voice: ‘Tell me a little more about this man we are going to see. Do you feel reasonably confident that he can be trusted?’

  ‘Don’t think he’ll back down on us once the thing is signed,’ replied Simon. ‘Put through an enquiry to my office in London about him. They say he drives a hard bargain but sticks to his word once he’s given it.’

  ‘I take it he is not mixed up with the Iron Guard in any way? It’s scarcely likely that he would be if he’s prepared to do business with us.’

  ‘He’s the sort of wise guy who doesn’t believe in getting himself mixed up in politics,’ said Rex. ‘Money is what he’s after, first, last and all the time. He’s out to become the wealthiest man in Rumania, and he doesn’t give a damn who rules the country, provided they let him alone.’

  ‘I thought you said he’d taken a bias against the Nazis?’

  ‘Sure. His wife’s a Jewess, but I don’t reckon he’d let that interfere with his business deals.’

  ‘Then it’s just on the cards that he may be double-crossing us and has put our idea up to the Germans with the hope that they might pay a higher price.’

  ‘Ner. Don’t think so.’ Simon shook his head. ‘He named his price the first time we went to see him. It was an outrageous one, of course, but he wouldn’t reduce it by a lei. Naturally, we tried to get him down. That didn’t cost us any time, as we hadn’t the boodle to close until this morning, anyway. But he wouldn’t budge an inch. He jumped to it that we were acting for the British Government first go off, and probably named the top sum he thought they’d pay, right away. If we swore on the Bible, the Koran and the Torah that this was a private deal, he still wouldn’t believe us. But now we’re prepared to come across I’m sure he’ll be satisfied. Just pat himself on the back for having opened his mouth so wide in the first place, and take the cash.’

  Their taxi drew up before a tree-screened mansion through the shrubberies of which there penetrated a long glass-roofed porch. The door was opened to them by a liveried manservant, and, after a short wait in a huge colonnaded vestibule, they were ushered into an ornate room on the ground floor, where the Rumanian millionaire transacted his business.

  Rising from a tall, stiff-backed, brocaded chair of the Louis XIV period, which stood behind a big satinwood table inlaid with ormolu, Teleuescu came to meet them. He was a very tall man with a red face and a small paunch that stood out curiously in view of his otherwise lean figure.

  ‘My friends!’ he exclaimed. ‘Come in, come in. But I see there is now a third in your party. Be so kind as to introduce me.’

  The introduction was effected, and the Duke looked about him, attempting to assess from the room something of the character of its owner. Its furnishings were mainly French and of the eighteenth century, but some fine Persian rugs were scattered about the parquet floor, and among them two beautiful Oltenians of native Rumanian craftsmanship. Most of the pictures on the walls were not by recognisable old masters, but, nevertheless, very fine portraits of Boyars, as the great Rumanian landowners of the eighteenth century and earlier were called; their richly embroidered, fur-trimmed robes, jewelled ornaments and high papenkas—or great turban-like hats—gave the paintings a sombre magnificence which did much to lend character to this otherwise ornate apartment. De Richleau decided that their owner was no mere money spinner who had brought French antique furniture because it was showy and expensive; the Oltenian rugs and the bearded figures of semi-barbaric splendour on the walls showed that Monsieur Teleuescu had very marked tastes of his own and had surrounded himself with gilt, bronze and ormolu because he liked it.

  Although he transacted all his business in this room, not a single paper was to be seen; but as soon as they were seated the millionaire pulled open a drawer and laid a closely typed document of several pages upon the desk.

  ‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘you will be aware that a deal such as that upon which we are engaged has many complications. Nevertheless, I have made my lawyers work overtime upon it, and they have drawn up this deed in consultation with the firm that you appointed to act for you. Both parties have now expressed themselves as satisfied with its contents, and I have here covering letters from them both.’

  Rex nodded. ‘Sure. I heard from our people that they’d okayed it after lunch today.’

  ‘Good. I ordered it to be drawn up in French, as that is a language common to us all, and the one in which we have found it most suitable to converse. Perhaps you would now like to read it through?’

  ‘Er, thanks.’ Simon, who was nearest, took the paper, and the other two drew up their chairs so that they could see over his shoulders. It took them ten minutes to run through the clauses and much of the legal jargon was almost incomprehensible to them, but they had ample faith in the international lawyers who had vetted it for them, as the same firm acted for both the British and American Legations; and the main fact in the preamble was perfectly clear. In exchange for a cash payment of one tenth of the full sum involved. Teleuescu was giving them an option to acquire on payment of the balance within thirty days the whole of his majority holdings in the Danube barge companies; but, if the balance were not paid within thirty days, the option became null and void, and the holders of it forfeited their deposit.

  When they had finished reading it they nodded to one another, and Simon handed it back with the remark: ‘That seems quite all right to us; but—er—I see you have not filled in the name of the purchasing party.’

  Teleuescu shrugged. ‘I will, if you wish, but I must confess that I had formed the impression that you were acting for the British Government, so I thought that, if I left it blank, the name of anyone they might select as their nominee could be inserted.’

  ‘Ner,’ Simon shook his head, ‘this is a private deal.’

  ‘Then,’ smiled Teleuescu, ‘I am happy to congratulate you and your friends on your great wealth, Mr. Aron. Please fill in your own names at your leisure. You have, of course, brought the money with you?’

  Rex produced the banker’s draft and passed it across. ‘I had that drawn this morning. It is okayed by your State Bank, and on presentation the cash will be placed to your credit.’

  The Rumanian gave the flimsy paper a swift though apparently casual scrutiny, and flicked it back. ‘Thank you, that is perfectly satisfactory.’

  ‘Heh!’ exclaimed Rex. ‘What’s the idea? We exchange papers now. You keep that and give us the option.’

  ‘Not yet.’ Teleuescu put the document back into the drawer of his desk and shut it firmly, but his smile was most friendly. ‘There is still a small formality to be observed. To make it fully operative the option must first be countersigned by the Rumanian Prime Minister.’

  ‘But surely,’ remarked the Duke, carefully concealing his sudden alarm, ‘to secure his signature may take days—or even weeks. It is strictly necessary?’

  ‘Yes. It is absolutely essential. A large part of Rumania’s wealth, you know, lies in her export of oil, and Germany is now her principal customer. In the event of my barges becoming inoperative for any reason, the quantity which could be sent to Germany would be reduced to a trickle—or at least the comparatively small amount that is always going through by rail. It is not for me to suggest a reason why you should be willing to pay—yes, I will be frank with you—nearly five times the real worth of my barges to gain control of them. But it would not surprise me, in view of your nationalities, if, immediately you have gained the control, you decide to lay the barges up, or find some other use for them.

  ‘Oil is the life-blood of modern war, and by such a move you could deal Hitler a blow the results of which are quite incalculable. By next summer you would probably have reduced the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by sixty per cent and have rendered most of Hitler’s armoured divisions inoperable. But how would Rumania come out of all this? Last time she lined up
with the Allies, she suffered grievously by so doing, but in the long run she was amply rewarded by Austro-Hungary being forced to cede Transylvania, which has always rightly belonged to her. The retention of Transylvania dominates all Rumania’s foreign relations.

  ‘If Hitler can be speedily defeated, there is no doubt at all that we shall be left in full enjoyment of all our present territories. To cut off the bulk of his oil supplies would enormously accelerate an Allied victory, but in the meantime Rumania would be compelled to forgo a great part of her revenues. Directly it becomes known that this is happening, the Government will be faced with a great public outcry; not only from the shortsighted masses, who will resent the new taxes that will have to be imposed, but also from more powerful interests, who are of the opinion that we can have our cake and eat it too.’

  Teleuescu paused for a moment, then went on thoughtfully: ‘I am not altogether certain either that these people are not right. Even if Hitler continues to receive his full supplies of Rumanian oil, that is no guarantee that in the long run he will emerge from the conflict as the victor; and an Allied victory at any time, however distant, would result in Transylvania either remaining Rumanian or becoming Rumanian again.

  ‘Then there are those who argue that a German victory would serve us equally well, provided we are prepared to adopt some form of National Socialism. I am a business man, and in Germany big business has not suffered under the Nazi régime; on the contrary, it has prospered exceedingly. So, you see, although I have a slight personal bias in favour of the Allies, I am virtually a neutral so far as this business is concerned.’

  ‘Yes, I get that,’ Rex agreed, with a puzzled frown. ‘But I still don’t see where your Prime Minister comes in.’

  ‘It is because, if I sell you my barges, I wish you to get what you pay for,’ Teleuescu smiled, tapping his table. ‘If I were to give you the document as it stands, the control of the barges would become yours on your paying up the balance of the purchase price. So far so good. But, if you then decided to lay them up, as I have told you, a public outcry would result. Such pressure might then be brought upon the Government that it would decide to frame a special Act of Parliament nationalising the barges—or commandeering them, if you prefer—in order that the oil traffic with Germany could be resumed.’

  ‘I see,’ breathed the Duke. ‘And your idea is to commit your Government to a definite policy beforehand?’

  ‘Exactly! If the Rumanian Prime Minister countersigns the document, it will show that the deal was carried through with the Government’s full knowledge and consent. In such a case, even should the Government be changed in the meantime, I do not believe for one moment that it would go back on a previous Rumanian Prime Minister’s signature.’

  For a moment they were silent, then de Richleau said: ‘I think we all owe a great debt of gratitude to Monsieur Teleuescu for his forethought in seeking to protect our interests in this way.’

  The Rumanian spread out his hands. ‘Gentlemen, it has been my good fortune to make a great deal of money, and I have found that honesty always pays. Whether you are prepared to admit it or not, I am of the opinion that you are acting for the Allied Governments. At the moment I am interesting myself in shipping, and with a war on they should prove my best customers. I want them to know that they can buy from me with confidence, because I shall do everything humanly possible to ensure the delivery of the goods.’

  ‘This—er—signature?’ Simon hazarded. ‘Are you quite certain that you can get it?’

  ‘Yes. I have discussed the whole affair at great length on three occasions with the Prime Minister. Armand Calinesco is a great little man, you know. It takes courage to commit oneself to a policy like this; as, if the Germans go into Hungary, it might even plunge Rumania into war. But he has complete faith in an eventual Allied victory and is prepared to face the music from his own people in order to bring it about, and peace to the world again, more speedily.’

  ‘Will you be able to get it within the next few days?’ asked the Duke.

  ‘I shall get it tomorrow morning. I already have an appointment with him for that purpose. I only asked you to come here tonight to make certain that everything was in order and—I will be honest—to see, as they say in English, the colour of your money, before asking him to countersign the deed.’

  ‘Well, both the deed and the money are all right,’ laughed Rex.

  Teleuescu nodded. ‘Yes. I am very glad you managed to secure the banker’s draft. I will confess now that I had some doubts about your ability to do so. That is no reflection on your stability, of course; but I was just a little worried that you might find some difficulty in getting so large a credit transferred to Rumania now that the Allies have frozen all their assets. You see, rich as I am, I need that money very badly at the moment. War, terrible as it is, presents us financiers with unrivalled opportunities for increasing our wealth, and I practically took a gamble on your option money being in my bank the day after tomorrow, in order to meet a new liability to which I have committed myself in connection with the shipping that I mentioned just now. Still, all is well that ends well. If you will be here at midday tomorrow, the document will be ready for you. Now, may I offer you gentlemen a drink?’

  On their accepting he pressed a concealed bell, and a servant, dressed in a long, royal blue caftan edged with gold, brought in a decanter and glasses on a silver salver. The contents of the decanter proved to be Tuicá, a national spirit of Rumania, somewhat resembling the Hungarian Baratsk, which can be drunk at any hour, although it is usually taken as an apéritif, and varies in quality from the newly distilled fiery spirit on sale in every little tavern to a beautifully smooth, heart-warming liquor found in the better restaurants and private houses of the well-to-do. The present example had been matured for many years, and the visitors drank it with due appreciation.

  As they set down their glasses Teleuescu rose again to see them out, remarking pleasantly as he did so: ‘I’m afraid my next interview will not be such a pleasant one. Owing to your having produced the option money as agreed, I shall have to disappoint the gentlemen who are coming to see me quite shortly.’

  De Richleau stopped dead in his tracks. ‘Do you mean that a third party is interested in this matter of the barges?’

  ‘Please don’t be alarmed,’ smiled the Rumanian. ‘After this evening’s talk the option is as good as in your pocket. But I felt it only sensible to ensure against the freezing of credits preventing you from finding the necessary money. I will confess that it was Mr. Aron and Mr. van Ryn who first put the idea of parting with my holdings into my head. But, having once decided to do so—well, as the English say, “I am not a man who allows the grass to grow under his feet.” I naturally began to consider how I could utilise the money that is coming to me to the best advantage. Having decided to go into shipping, I at once began negotiations for the purchase of Rumania’s biggest line. If you had failed me I should have had to part with assets which I do not yet wish to dispose of, in order to finance the purchase of the line. I felt confident that another buyer could be found who would willingly pay as much as you are prepared to do, in order to keep the barges out of your hands.’

  ‘The Germans!’ exclaimed the Duke.

  ‘Of course. A few days ago I saw to it that the German Legation here got to know that I was thinking of disposing of my holdings, and they got in touch with me immediately. But you have not the least need to worry. As far as I am concerned the sale has now taken place, and I can give you my honest assurance that I would much rather have sold to you than to the Germans.’

  ‘Hope to God you haven’t let them know who was negotiating with you!’ Simon jerked out.

  Teleuescu frowned. ‘Mr. Aron, I am surprised that you should even suggest such a thing. I have naturally regarded your approaches to me as a matter of the strictest confidence.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Simon apologised, ‘but we can’t be too careful, you know. Bucharest is full of German agents. If they knew
we had this option, to prevent our getting it back to England they wouldn’t think twice about bumping us off, even though we are in a neutral country.’

  The Rumanian smiled again and patted his little paunch. ‘I quite understand your alarm, but you haven’t the least cause to be afraid, because they would never guess that any private buyer would have sufficient resources to make such a purchase, and will naturally have assumed that I am dealing direct with Sir Reginald Kent at your Legation.’ With a glance at the clock, he added as an afterthought: ‘However perhaps it would be as well if you left here now. It is unlikely that the Germans would even connect you with the deal as you are not on the staff of the British Legation. All the same, it would be wiser if you did not run into them on my doorstep, and I am expecting them at half past ten.’

  It was only twenty past, so there seemed no need for undue hurry, but nevertheless the visitors did not linger over their farewells. Having thanked the Rumanian millionaire, they collected their hats from the footman in the hall, and a minute later were walking down the paved way under the glass portico to the street.

  The car that they had hired was waiting for them, and just as they were about to get into it another car drew up with its front buffers only a few yards from their rear light.

  ‘Hurry!’ whispered the Duke, who was little behind the other two. ‘This may be the Germans, arriving early.’

  As Simon jumped in and de Richleau waited for Rex to follow, he gave a quick glance at the other car. A slim man a little above medium height had just got out and was looking in his direction. There was something vaguely familiar in a gesture the man made as he flicked a cigar which he was smoking, but the brim of a soft hat threw a strong shadow on his face, and the Duke could not place him. Swiftly turning his own face away, de Richleau dived after Rex, and a moment later their car was spinning down the Chaussée Kisseleff, bearing them back to their hotel.