'He continues to concoct his miserable little swindles?'
'I really don't know. He always seems to be busy, but just what he does I have no idea.'
'It is time he was stopped for good.' The flash of fire in Kahlenberg's eyes made her remember that Garry had thought this man was unbalanced. 'He is developing into a nuisance.'
'Do you think so? I should have thought he is no more of a nuisance than others,' Gaye said coolly. 'After all, Mr. Kahlenberg, surely you are birds of a feather?'
Kahlenberg's eyes narrowed slightly.
'What makes you say that, Miss Desmond?'
'Mr. Tak tells me everything in your museum is an original. I don't imagine the authorities of Florence would have sold you the Ghiberti panel or the Bernini David. I do know you stole the Borgia ring. Surely you are just as much a nuisance to the curators of various museums as Mr. Shalik is to you.'
Kahlenberg smiled.
'Yes, I admit everything in my museum has been stolen, but there is a reason. I appreciate beautiful things. I need beauty. I am too busy to visit Europe so I prefer to have my beauty here where I can see it when I have the inclination. But Shalik only plots for money, not beauty. He lives for money as I live for beauty. I intend to stop him.'
'Perhaps he needs the money,' Gaye said. 'You have more than enough. Perhaps you would be like Mr. Shalik if you had no money.'
Kahlenberg crushed out his cigarette. She could see he was controlling his temper only with an effort.
'You are a spirited woman, Miss Desmond. I am sure Mr. Shalik would be flattered to hear you defending him.'
'I am not defending him. I am just saying I see no difference between you and him,' Gaye said quietly.
At this moment the double doors swung open and Garry and Fennel walked in.
The four Zulus paused in the doorway, looking towards
Kahlenberg who dismissed them with a wave of his hand. They stepped back and the doors closed.
'Come in, gentlemen and sit down,' Kahlenberg said, waving to chairs opposite his desk. 'As you see, Miss Desmond has already joined me.'
Garry went to a chair and folded himself down into it, but Fennel remained standing, glaring at Kahlenberg.
'Please sit down, Mr. Fennel,' Kahlenberg said quietly. 'Let me congratulate you. I didn't believe it was possible for anyone to open the door to my museum and yet you have done it. It is an achievement.'
'You can cut out the soft soap!' Fennel snarled. We came for the ring and we haven't got it so now we're getting the hell out of here and you're not stopping us!'
'Certainly you shall leave,' Kahlenberg said, 'but we have something to discuss first.'
'I'm not discussing anything with you!' Fennel snapped. He was livid with rage and disappointment. He looked at Gaye and Garry. 'Come on . . . he daren't stop us.' And he started towards the door, grabbed the handle but found the door locked. He spun around, glaring at Kahlenberg. 'Open this door or I'll break your goddamn neck!'
Kahlenberg raised his eyebrows.
'That could be dangerous for you, Mr. Fennel,' he said and made a soft clicking sound with his tongue against his teeth. Immediately, Hindenburg stood up and began to move slowly forward, his eyes on Fennel, his lips off his teeth in a ferocious snarl that made Fennel back away. 'I assure you,' Kahlenberg went on, 'my pet would tear you to pieces if I give him another signal. Sit down!'
Cowed by the cheetah, Fennel sat down abruptly by Garry. 'Thank you,' Kahlenberg said, then went on, 'I don't want the effort you three have made to get the Borgia ring to be wasted. As Miss Desmond has rightly pointed out, the ring doesn't legally belong to me. Since you all have shown so much initiative in getting as far as you have, I have decided to give you the ring on certain conditions.' He opened the drawer in his desk and took out the glass box, containing the ring. He placed the box on his desk where the three could see it.
Fennel glared at the ring and then looked at Garry.
'Is that it?' and when Garry nodded, Fennel turned to Kahlenberg. 'What do you mean . . . conditions?'
Kahlenberg addressed himself to Gaye.
'Miss Desmond, although I live in considerable luxury, although I am an exceedingly busy man, there are times when I get very bored with myself. As you see, I am a cripple. I am chained to this chair. One of my
