gutted appearance, as though the Eiffel Tower had toppled over and
somebody had built a modernistic apartment block at one end.
It seemed impossible that such a structure was capable of floating.
God, she was ugly, Nick thought.
They are still working on her/ he said. One of the gantries was moving
ponderously along the length of the ship like an arthritic dinosaur, and
at fifty paces the brilliant blue electric fires of the welding torches
flickered; while upon the grotesquely riven hull crawled human figures
reduced to antlike insignificance by the sheer size of the vessel.
They are still working, he repeated it as an accusation.
Nicholas, nothing in this life is simple Did you spell it out for
Duncan? except for people like you. You didn't confront Duncan, did
you? he accused bitterly, It's easy for you to be strong. It's one of
the things that first attracted me. And Nicholas almost laughed aloud.
It was ludicrous to talk of strength, after his many displays of
weakness with this very woman.
Did you call Duncan's cards? he insisted, but she put him off with a
smile.
Let's wait until we have a glass of wine Now/ he snapped. Tell me right
now. Chantelle, I haven't time for games. Yes, I spoke to him, she
nodded. I called him down to Cap Ferrat, and I accused him - of what
You suspected. He denied it? if he denies it, I now have further proof
No, Nicholas. He didn't deny a thing. He told me that I knew only the
half of it. Her voice rose sharply, and suddenly it all spilled out in
a torrent of tortured words. Her composure was eroded swiftly away as
she relived the enormity of her predicament.
He's gambled with my fortune, Nicholas. He's risked the family share of
Christy Marine, the Trust shares, my shares, it's all at risk. And he
gloated as he told me, he truly gloried in his betrayal. We've got him
now. Nicholas had straightened slowly in his seat as he listened.
His voice was grimly satisfied and he nodded. That's it. We will stop
the Golden Dawn, like that -the hammered his bunched fist into the palm
of the other hand with a sharp crack. We will get an urgent order
before the courts. Nicholas stopped suddenly and stared at her.
Chantelle was shaking her head slowly from side to side. Her eyes
slowly filled, making them huge and glistening, a single tear spilled
over the lid and clung in the thick dark lashes like a drop of morning
dew.
The Rolls had stopped now outside the tiny bistro. It was on the river
front, with a view across the water to the dockyards. To the west the
river debauched into the open sea and in the east the beautiful arch of
the bridge across the pale blue spring sky.
The chauffeur held open the door and Chantelle was gone with her swift
birdlike grace, leaving Nicholas no choice but to follow her.
The proprietor came through from his kitchen and fussed over Chantelle,
seating her at the window and lingering to discuss the menu.
Oh, let's drink the Muscadet, Nicholas. She had always had the most
amazing powers of recovery, and now the tears were gone and she was
brittle and gay and beautiful, smiling at him over the rim of her glass.
The sunlight through the leaded window panes danced in the cool golden
