The Forbidden Territory Read Online Free PDF Page A

saying that he wanted to use the telephone, he also wanted a word with Richard Eaton.
    He found his friend without difficulty—and led the way to a quiet corner. Richard Eaton was a young man of medium height. His dark hair was brushed straight back from a “widow’s peak”, grey eyes twinkled out of a tanned, clean-shaven, oval face; he had a most attractive smile. He smiled now at Simon. “You are hitting it up, my boy—who’s the lovely lady?”
    Simon looked a trifle sheepish—“Madame Karkoff,”he mumbled. “She’s a Russian—Moscow Arts Theatre—nice, isn’t she? But, look here, where have you been all the week? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for days.”
    “I’ve been staying with the Terences, down near Reading—he’s great fun—commanded a battalion of the Coldstream in the Chinese shemozzle. I’ve got my new plane down there—been trying it out.”
    “I see,” Simon nodded. “Well—I wanted to see you, because—er—I’m off to Russia in a few days’ time.”
    “My dear old boy, you have got it badly!”
    “Don’t be an ass.” Simon wriggled his neck and grinned. “No, honestly, there is a muddle on.”
    “What sort of a muddle?” Richard Eaton asked, serious at once.
    “It’s Rex. He’s in Russia—spot of trouble with the authorities. He’s in prison somewhere—we don’t quite know where.”
    “Phew!” Eaton let out a long whistle. “That’s a nasty one—poor old Rex—and you’re going over to try and get him out, is that the idea?”
    Simon nodded. “That’s about it.”
    “Well,” said Richard Eaton, slowly, “you can’t go off on a job like that alone—I’d better come, too. I owe Rex a turn over that mess of mine.”
    “Ner—awfully nice of you, Richard, but De Richleaus’ coming, in fact he’s already gone—probably there by now, but I’ll tell you what I
do
want you to do.”
    “Go right ahead, Simon.” Eaton took his friend by the arm. “Just say how I can help. I was going to take the new bus down to Cannes for a week or two, but I can easily scrap that.”
    “That’s splendid of you, Richard, but don’t alter anything,” Simon begged. “As long as you don’t kill yourself in your plane. I’m always terrified that you’ll do that!”
    Eaton laughed. “Not likely; she’s fast and foolproof—a kid of twelve could fly her—but what’s the drill?”
    “I shall arrive in Moscow next Tuesday. I’ve got apermit for three weeks; now if you don’t hear from the Duke or myself that we are safely back out of Russia by then, I want you to stir things up. Get busy with the Foreign Office, and pull every wire you know to get us out of it. Of course I shall leave instructions with the firm as well—but I want someone like you, who’ll not stop kicking people until they get us out.”
    Richard Eaton nodded slowly. “Right you are, old boy, leave it to me—but I’ll see you before you go?”
    “Um, rather—what about lunch tomorrow?”
    “Splendid, where shall we say? Let’s go and see Vecchi at the Hungaria. One o’clock suit you?”
    “Yes. Look!” Simon had just caught sight of Valeria Petrovna again. “There’s Madame Karkoff—come over and let me introduce you.”
    Richard shook his head in mock fright. “No, thanks, Simon. I like ’em small and cuddlesome. I should be scared that Russian girl would eat me!”
    “Don’t be an idiot. I want to telephone—come and talk to her. I shan’t be a minute.”
    “Oh, if it’s only a matter of holding the fort while you’re busy, that’s another thing.” Richard was duly presented, and Simon slipped away.
    Eaton found her easier to talk to than he had expected, but she did not attract him in the least. He was glad when Simon came back, and took the opportunity to leave them when they suggested returning to the music-room.
    Simon and Valeria Petrovna heard Alec Wolff play, which was a pleasant interlude—and a bald man sing, which, after what had gone before, was an