the truth, you know. The men we seek-their car is at your gate.'
'Mr. Turner's gate,' said Maria.
'All three of these men-they are said to be very dangerous. They are also armed.'
'Three?' asked Sophie.
'Does that surprise you?'
'No,' Sophie said. 'Except-what chance would we poor girls have against three armed men? I'm glad you came, Inspector.'
'I also,' said Segur, and bowed, then talked to Sophie in rapid Provencal French as they moved from room to room. When they had covered the whole house, Segur sent Martini downstairs with Maria and went back to the loggia, taking Sophie with him. They stood by its stone balcony and looked out to sea.
'That is a good vine,' he said. 'A remarkable plant to find two floors up.'
'You can see St. Hospice from here,' said Sophie. 'Come and look.'
'I am a Nicois,' said Segur. 'I have seen St. Hospice at least once a year for the last fifty-three years. But this is the first time I have seen a vine two floors up.' He spoke in English. 'A man could hide behind that vine. If he had a gun, he could kill me.'
'If he were that sort of man,' Sophie said.
'The man I am thinking of has already killed tonight. He has killed an ex-colonel in the French Army. A man called St. Briac. I am told that it was murder. I believe that it may have been self-defense. I was sent here to arrest this man and his friends, and yet I am forbidden to visit the scene of the crime. That is not the way a policeman should work. Did you know St. Briac?' 'No,' said Sophie.
'He supported the-what is the word-the extremists in Algeria. Do you do that?'
'No,' said Sophie. 'There aren't many of my generation who do. We're sick of Algeria. You should know that.'
'I do know it,' Segur said. 'I am sick of it too. That is why I am glad this man is not here. You saw me look everywhere, didn't you?'
'Of course,' said Sophie. 'You were extremely thorough.'
Segur said, 'I'll tell you something about St. Briac. He was a murdering swine. Of course, you have only my word for it-'
'That is enough,' said Sophie. 'Obviously you are a man of honor.'
'His followers are also murdering swine,' said Segur. 'And I'm sick of them. They are looking for the three men I spoke of, the three men who aren't here. I am very much afraid they want to kill them. I hope they won't succeed, but I can't stop them. I won't be allowed to stop them. I was once before in this very same situation. It was during the war. Only that time the killers were Germans, and the ones they hunted were Frenchmen.' He shrugged. 'I've done all I can. I wish it could be more-I remember I said that too, the last time.' Suddenly the suave manner cracked, and he was a very angry man. 'It ought to be more,' he shouted.
'No,' Sophie said. 'You have been very kind to us. We are grateful.'
Segur said, 'I've been as kind as I dared. I don't think I deserve your gratitude, but I should like a drink, please.'
'The brandy is downstairs,' said Sophie.
The suavity came back; a hard protective shell against the orders he hated.
'Let us join it. I have a very singular habit, Miss Gourdun. When I drive away from a house, I always give two long blasts on the horn. I cannot think why.'
He left, and a few minutes later Craig and Ashford heard the two long blasts and went downstairs, and followed Sophie into the kitchen, where she made them an omelet and a salad, and took cold chicken from the refrigerator. Craig ate enormously, and drank the rosi d'Anjou that Maria poured. Sophie looked at him adoringly.
'Isn't he gorgeous?' she asked. 'Just look at him eat.' 'He's the cutest thing,' said Maria. 'But how about when he's eaten?'
'We'll go,' Craig said.
'Darling, you can't,' said Sophie. 'Those men are still around here looking for you, the inspector says, and they've seen the car. They must know you're in here, and Segur says he's had orders to let them wait outside. I think you had better stay here with us.'
She made coffee, and he drank it with brandy. Then she took him back to her bedroom and made him he down on the bed, took off her dressing gown, and got in beside him. Her arms came around him, strong and comforting, and she drew his head to her breast. He could feel her heartbeat, calm, untroubled, steady. Then she looked down at his face and laughed, and there was mockery in her laughter, and tenderness, and behind them both, despair.
'Don't worry,' she said. 'I can see how tired you are. I will try to control my terrible passion. But you are so delicious, you see. I want to bite you. All the time.'
'Too lean,' said Craig. 'Old. Tough. Stringy.'
'Not here,' said Sophie. 'Or here. Or here.' She touched his neck, his ear, and, very gently, the strip of tape on his cheek. 'Is it true what Segur said?'
Craig nodded. It was hard to stay awake.
'And he was a swine? Is that true too?'
'We all were,' said Craig wearily. 'I know that now.' He fell asleep.
CHAPTER 17
She woke him at two in the morning, seeing how, when she touched him, he awoke at once, eyes open, his good hand ready, perhaps to defend, more probably to strike.
'You must get up,' she said. 'Dan Turner is coming soon. There is to be a party.'
He left the bed and went to a basin, washed one-handed, came back to the brandy bottle, and took a drink.
'Why are you here?' he asked.
'Because of Dan. It costs us nothing, and we like him. He likes to have us around, he says. I think he would still like to sleep with us but I do not find him attractive. Nor does Maria. It is a pity. Now you are altogether different. You attract me enormously. Especially since we camped out together.'
Craig looked at once modest, delighted, and upset, and Sophie giggled.
'And you have your own little boyfriend. Such a pity,' she said.
'Ashford?' He sounded so incredulous that she giggled again.
'Ashford's all right,' he said. 'Believe me. But we're just friends. Believe that too.'
Sophie kissed him. 'Poor John,' she said. 'Now listen. Maria and 1 will tell Dan that we went into Nice and met you there-at your hotel, and your little friend too. You and Ricky have been in a car accident, which is why you are both damaged.'
'Thanks. Where's Ricky now?'
'Downstairs. He knows an awful lot about clothes. He told me exactly what this cost.'
She touched the bodice of the dress she was wearing, a cool sheath of white linen that accentuated her golden tan, the paler gold of her hair.
'He's in the business,' he said.
'I know. He told me. Poor Ricky. Some of his clients must hit very hard.' She spun around; white linen lifted over a froth of white lace. 'Dan bought me this. Do you like it?'
'Yes,' said Craig, 'but I ought to talk to Ricky.'
Ricky was much more at his ease now, talking clothes with Maria, sketching, gesticulating, the epicene charm triumphing over the taped hps.
'It seems that Maria and I are old friends,' he said. 'That's nice.'
'I'd like to get on to Grierson,' said Craig. 'Do you know where I can reach him?'
Ashford turned to Maria. 'Darling, would you mind?' he asked.
