The Poellenberg Inheritance Read Online Free PDF Page B

eyes reminded him of something but he couldn’t think what. Some kind of bird. And certainly no domestic pet. It was the circle of yellow round the dark-brown iris. ‘He stole the Poellenberg Salt from us, Mr. Fisher. It’s never been found, and if he’s alive he’s the only person who knows where it is hidden. That is why I’ve sent for you. I want you to find him.’

CHAPTER TWO
    Mr. Black was a small man. Paula was behind her desk when he was shown in, and she was surprised to find that he was a head shorter than she was. She had expected someone tall.
    But Black was thin and small-boned; he took off a dark felt hat and his hair was completely white, brushed back from a wide forehead. It was a Slavic face, high cheek-boned, with heavy-lidded grey eyes and a narrow mouth.
    Paula held out her hand and he made a little bow and kissed it. It was not a real kiss, just an upper-class German gesture where the lips never made contact.
    â€˜How do you do, Mr. Black,’ she said. ‘Please come and sit down.’
    â€˜How do you do, Mrs. Stanley. Thank you. Over here?’
    She pointed to one of the two modern armchairs which furnished her office. It was a cheerful room, the walls covered with Paula’s own fabric designs. This room and what it represented was a very important part of her life. During the latter part of her marriage to James, her career as a designer had provided self-respect.
    â€˜What can I do for you?’ she said. ‘Have a cigarette?’
    â€˜No, thank you, I don’t smoke. Mrs. Stanley, I have something very important to tell you, but I think I should explain myself a little first.’
    â€˜You said something on the phone,’ Paula said. ‘You mentioned knowing my father. I’d like you to tell me about him. Please.’
    â€˜What do you want to know?’ he asked her. ‘I served under him for three years and I was also his friend. And his devoted admirer. He was a great man, Mrs. Stanley. I hope you realise that.’ The grey eyes were dilated; his stare made her uncomfortable. ‘A very great man. I was with him and I know. You resemble him very much, did you know that?’
    â€˜No,’ Paula said slowly. ‘I didn’t know.’
    â€˜You have his eyes,’ Black said. ‘The moment I came into the room, it was like seeing the General again. He was very proud of you; he carried a photograph of you in his wallet. He used to show it round. You don’t remember him, do you?’
    â€˜No,’ she said. ‘I was too small. I haven’t even a photograph of him. I don’t even know what he looked like.’
    â€˜Ah,’ he said slowly. ‘Your mother married again, didn’t she – to an English officer? Yes, I heard about it. She would prefer to forget the General. They both would. You didn’t tell her I had telephoned, did you?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Paula admitted. It seemed pointless to lie. There was a fanatical look about him which disturbed her. For a small man, white-haired and frail, he was rather frightening. She had never met anyone like him before, and she couldn’t have described why she was afraid. Then he smiled, and his face became gentle again.
    â€˜I am not criticising her, please don’t misunderstand. She was always charming to me,’ he said. ‘Things were very difficult after the war. We had to survive as best we could. It’s a pity you don’t remember your father. He was very fond of you. Very fond.’
    â€˜I didn’t know that,’ Paula said. ‘I’ve never been told anything about him.’
    â€˜He loved you,’ Black said. He leaned a little forward in his chair, his hands clasped tightly on his knees. ‘He loved you as no man has ever loved a child. He told me in the last months before the end, that if he was killed his only regret would be leaving you. He felt your mother would be able to take care