Wayness had slumped back into her chair, almost weak with joy. Julian Bohost, whatever the reason for his presence at Fair Winds, had been baited along a false trail, and in a most convincing manner.
“One more question,” said Lefaun. “For the sake of argument, if someone wanted to find the source of an anonymous bequest, how would he go about it?”
"He would be turned away, politely but briskly and no one would listen to his complaints. That information is considered a sacred trust, and is inaccessible even to me. Is there anything else?"
“No, thank you,” said Lefaun. “You have provided us full and exact information.”
Natalinya Harmin returned to her own party. “Now then,” said Lefaun. “To the next step. I have noted several words upon my paper. There is no mystery about these words. They were formed in my mind by simple processes. This morning, when I first looked into the three cases, I noted that the genealogical studies in the second case traced the lineage of the Counts de Flamanges, with emphasis upon those associated with the Naturalist Society. Among the biographies in the first case the only volume showing signs of use was that concerning the Count de Flamanges. The third case included much material regarding the Count de Flamanges and his offer of three hundred acres to the Naturalist Society. In short, the cases apparently had been donated by someone connected with the de Flamanges.” Lefaun turned over his paper. “Therefore ‘Count de Flamanges, of Castle Mirky Porod near Draczeny, in the Moholc.’ There are the words you will read here.”
Lefaun tilted his beer mug finding it empty he set it down with a thud. “I seem to be empty. Tadiew, lend me five tickets."
"Never. You already owe me eleven.”
Wayness hastily pushed a number of tickets toward Lefaun. “Take these; I won’t need so many.”
"Thank you.” Lefaun rose to his feet. Tadiew called out: “In that case, bring me another quart!”
Lefaun went to the dispenser and returned with two large mugs brimming with foam. “I take no pride in my deduction; the facts seem to cry out for attention. Now then, Tadiew, what more can you tell us?"
“First, that I am out of pocket fourteen sols and that I have used every trick in my repertory to penetrate the inner files.”
Lefaun told Wayness: “It helps a great deal when one has a warm relationship with the secretary to one of our high bashaws."
"Do not deprecate my efforts!" snapped Tadiew. “I went on tenterhooks, I can assure you, and for a time hid behind a desk."
"In the main, it was well done, Tadiew! I personally lack your subtle skills. You may now produce the lightning bolts of surprising information that your work has achieved."
“Don’t crow!" With a fretful motion Tadiew turned over his paper, to reveal a name: “‘Countess Ottilie de Flamanges’. The bequest was made about twenty years ago, upon the death of the Count. She still lives in her castle, alone except for servants and dogs. She is said to be somewhat eccentric."
Wayness brought out money. “Here are thirty sols. I understand nothing of your financial arrangements, nor who paid what to whom. You must straighten such matters out between yourselves. And now — ” Wayness rose to her feet ” — I, must return to the hotel.”
“What?” cried Lefaun. “We have not yet visited Mopo's nor the Black Eagle!”
Wayness smiled. “Still, I must go.”
"Nor have you seen my dinosaur's tooth, nor tasted my spiced saffronella, nor even listened to the chirping of my pet cricket!"
“I regret these omissions but they are unavoidable."
Lefaun gave a dismal groan and rose to his feet. "Tadiew guard my chair; I will be back shortly."
All the way back to the Mazeppa Hotel Wayness was kept busy negating Lefaun’s proposals and refuting his arguments, which were both urgent and inventive:
“… only a few yards to my flat: the stroll of a quarter-hour through the most picturesque part of Kiev!"
And: "We should never reject what Life decides to offer us! Existence is like a plum pie; the more plums one can find the better!”
And: "I marvel, I stand in awe, I am baffled when I try to calculate the probabilities of our meeting — you, the denizen of a world at the back of nowhere; I, a gentleman of Old Earth!”
"It seems an act of Predestination that we ignore, to our sure regret! No matter how one implores the Fates, our neglected opportunities can never be repaired!"
To which Wayness made the following rejoinders: “Up hill and down dale, hopping culverts and drains, stumbling over cobbles, scuttling through the back alleys like rats: is that it? No, thank you; tonight your cricket must chirp alone."
And: “I don’t feel at all like a plum. Think of me, rather, as a green persimmon, or a dead starfish, or a dish of old tripe."
And: "I agree that the odds against our meeting were enormous. It seems that Destiny is trying to tell you something — namely, that your chances of success elsewhere, say with Natalinya Harmin, are far better than with me."
At last Lefaun gave up and let her enter the hotel with no more than a muttered: 'Goodnight’.”
“Goodnight, Lefaun.”
Wayness ran across the lobby and went directly up to her room. For a few moments she sat thinking, then telephoned Fair Winds.
Pirie Tamm's bleak face appeared on the screen. “Fair Winds."
"Wayness here. Are you alone?”
“Quite alone.”
“Are you sure? Where is Julian?"
“Presumably in Ybarra. He used the telephone this afternoon and immediately told me that though he was sorry to leave Fair Winds so abruptly, he must visit an old friend who was departing Ybarra spaceport in two days, and inside the half-hour he was gone. Not a chap I particularly liked. What is your news?"
“It is tolerably good news,” said Wayness. “In effect, we have sent Julian off on a wild goose chase. He has gone to Croy, of course.”
“A wild goose chase, you say!"
Wayness explained. "I'm calling now, because I did not want you to worry all night long.”
“Thank you, Wayness. I shall sleep better, be assured. And what are your plans?"
“I am not sure yet. I must do some thinking. Perhaps I will go directly to not far from here…"
CHAPTER VI
In her room at the Mazeppa Hotel Wayness studied a map. The town Draczeny in the Moholc was no vast distance from Kiev as the crow flew but connections were anything but direct. The castle Mirky Porod was evidently located in a region of great natural charm, to the side of the usual tourist routes and commercial depots, though it was not indicated on the map.
Wayness pondered her options. Julian had been discomfited, at least temporarily. The chances were slight that he would return to Fair Winds. In the morning, therefore, Wayness flew directly to Shillaway, to arrive at Fair Winds during the middle afternoon.
Pirie Tamm was clearly happy to see her. "It seems as if you have been gone for weeks."
"I feel much the same. But I can't relax just yet. Julian has a bad temper and he hates to be thwarted."
"What can he do? Very little, or so I suppose."
"If he learns that Aeolus Benefices' is another way of saying 'Funusti Museum' he can do a great deal. I spent thirty sols for information; Julian might spend forty, but to the same effect. So I dare not delay."
“What, then, are your plans?"
“At this particular moment I want to learn something of the Counts de Flamanges, so that when I present myself at Mirky Porod, I will not be arriving in a state of total ignorance.”
“Most wise,” said Pirie Tamm. “If you like, while you are changing for dinner, I will check the references and see what information is available."