An Affair For the Baron Read Online Free PDF

number?”
    Ethel opened her bag, took out a slip of paper, and read: “Whitehall 4-31495.”
    â€œWhitehall 4-31495,” Mannering echoed. “That’s pretty near, if it’s not inside, the Loop.”
    â€œThe Loop?”
    â€œIt’s easier to show you that, than explain it,” Mannering said. “It’s an area surrounded by Chicago’s overhead railway. Did he say why he wanted you to go by train?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWas he in Chicago?”
    â€œYes. He said he was staying there for a few days before flying to San Antonio.”
    â€œWas he due in Chicago on his itinerary?”
    â€œI don’t think so – at least, not until after San Antonio. But I’m not certain. Oh, what a fool I am!”
    â€œIn what way?” inquired Mannering, lightly.
    â€œFor not bringing a copy of the itinerary with me. Not that it would help if I had,” Ethel added ruefully. “My bags are still in New York.”
    â€œWe’ll get them sent by air to Chicago,” Mannering interrupted. “That won’t be difficult. Let’s go on. While you were in your New York hotel room, Enrico Ballas came to see you.”
    She looked uneasy as she nodded.
    â€œHe wanted to know why you were in America, whether you had brought anything for your father,” Mannering went on. “You told him you’d come to see friends, that your father had no idea you were here, and you thought you’d persuaded Ballas that this was true. As soon as he’d gone, you yourself left carrying only the briefcase. Is that right?”
    â€œYes—but it didn’t fool him.”
    â€œNo,” Mannering agreed. “Enrico wouldn’t work alone, and he would have had you followed. I haven’t any doubt he realised you were on your way to Pennsylvania Station – or heading that way – and rushed after you. Do you know what’s in the packet?” he added, almost casually.
    â€œI haven’t the faintest idea.”
    â€œDid you know your father had any secret? Or any valuable documents?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHave you any idea at all what this is about?”
    â€œNo,” Ethel answered. “I can’t begin to imagine. Those malicious telephone calls he said he had didn’t really surprise me – he’s always saying things which annoy people. He annoys me sometimes. Fanatics can be so blind, and he is a fanatic. But—well, I’m completely in the dark over this. Didn’t you say you looked in the package?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat was in it?”
    â€œA box containing some lecture notes which in turn contained some microfilm.”
    â€œMicrofilm! But I thought—” Ethel broke off.
    â€œThat such stuff was only for spies,” Mannering said dryly. “There are a thousand-and-one uses for it, practically all important. Your father’s film had been cut in strips, each strip packed close to the margin between each sheet of the notes. They couldn’t be seen until I pulled the sheets apart. Did your father always prepare his lectures and have them typed out?”
    â€œYes—he—Mr. Mannering!” Alarm flared through Ethel.
    â€œWhat’s the trouble?” asked Mannering.
    â€œYou said: ‘ did he’.”
    â€œDid I?”
    â€œYes. In the past tense.”
    â€œOh,” said Mannering, blankly; then he went on quickly: “Yes, I did – but it was a slip of the tongue. I haven’t the faintest reason to believe that anything serious has happened to your father. I told you the simple truth, Ethel. I came after Ballas because I wanted to get some jewels back from him. They were stolen a week ago from this client of mine, and I had good reason to believe that Ballas was the thief. It all fitted in very nicely, actually, because I was coming to America anyway.”
    Ethel looked her ‘why?’
    â€œThere’s to be a