Tug of War Read Online Free PDF Page A

– that way. And let’s not forget Houdart Fils! He’s, as you calculated, sixteen.’ Redmayne smiled with satisfaction. ‘Does this Joliffe
child speak any French?’
    Joe recalled with dismay the fast and colloquial street French Dorcas had picked up trailing about after her father in the loucher parts of the Riviera. ‘Fluently,’ he said
diplomatically.
    ‘She does? Good. Yes, this might all work out to our advantage. Look here, don’t hesitate to telephone us if there’s anything we can supply. Full back-up guaranteed.
Shan’t be at my desk myself unfortunately. Like your sensible sister, I’m going north for a week or two.’ He glanced at the dramatic Victorian paintings of stags at bay and
frothing Scottish salmon streams hanging on his panelled walls and sighed with satisfaction. ‘But there’ll be someone here keeping communications open.’
    ‘Telephone?’ said Joe morosely. ‘Do they have the telephone down there?’
    ‘They certainly do. Halfway between Paris and Reims, you’d expect it. Things have changed, Sandilands, since you were dodging German shells over there eight years ago. No one like
the French when it comes to reconstruction. Still, when you come to think of it – they’ve had a lot of practice, poor souls. Look at it this way – sorting out
Charles-Auguste’s little problem is the teeniest bit of last-minute reconstruction. Least we can do, wouldn’t you say?’
    At this point Joe, mystified and discouraged, sighed and surrendered the pass.
    ‘Now. To business!’ At last the file was opened and Redmayne pretended to riffle through it. He had clearly made himself familiar with the contents and barely
    needed to refer to it during his briefing.
    ‘Know anything about shell-shock? Or the condition we must now call “neurasthenia” or “war psychosis”?’
    ‘I’ve encountered cases, sir. I can’t say I’ve made a study of it.’
    ‘Well, you’re going to have to. We have, naturally. In fact I’ve managed to put together a few papers here outlining the very latest thinking on the condition. Make yourself
familiar with them. It may help you in your enquiry.’
    ‘My enquiry? And does it have a subject, my enquiry?’
    ‘Of course. But not what I gather to be your usual kind of subject. No rotting corpse on offer, no member of the aristocracy done to death in mysterious circumstances. No, the reverse, in
fact. You’ll be helping to solve the mystery of someone who’s decidedly (and rather inconveniently) alive. ’
    He produced from the file a cutting from a French newspaper. The article occupied the whole of the front page and carried a large portrait photograph. Joe took it and translated the headline.
‘ Do you know this man?’ He studied the photograph for a few moments and looked up. ‘Of course I know him. Doesn’t everybody?’
    ‘What! Are you serious?’
    ‘But his face is everywhere in London at the moment. On billboards ten feet high. It’s Ronald Colman.’
    Pleased to have puzzled his boss he added kindly, ‘The film actor, sir, but a Ronald Colman after a heavy night out on the tiles, you’d say. Looks rather beaten up. You haven’t
seen him in Her Night Of Romance ? . . . Lady Windermere’s Fan ? And most recently Beau Geste ? Oh, an excellent film! I do recommend it. I’m sure Lady Redmayne could
tell you all about him. The gentleman is English by birth, wounded in the war and now making a name for himself on the silver screen in America.’
    ‘Do be serious, Commander.’
    Joe smiled. ‘The resemblance is, actually, quite striking.’ He looked again at the finely drawn, handsome face with its neat moustache.
    ‘Interesting. Ramble on, will you. First impressions are usually worth hearing. When they’re not flippantly delivered.’
    ‘No, I agree, sir, this could not possibly be a screen actor. This man is unaware of or indifferent to the camera. He’s not seeing the photographer, you’d say. He’s not
looking in