‘Tell me,’ he said; ‘is there any reason why we should treat this more seriously than any of the others?’
‘That’s what I’m hoping you’re going to find out,’ said Owen.
In fact, he had some sympathy with Georgiades, both over the heat-the Babylon was quite some distance away, although Georgiades would use the new electric tram for most of the journey-and over the general question of priorities. It always irritated him when something came up to disrupt the normal pattern of work, something to which others accorded priority. They nearly always had things the wrong way round. In Owen’s business, forestalling was a lot better than reacting, and forestalling was largely a matter of careful, continuous intelligence-gathering. Any diversion from that was, in his view, something to be resisted.
This visit of the Grand Duke, for instance, he could have done without. It was an extra. Why go in for extras when you had enough on your plate as it was? He guessed, though, that the Khedive did not see it like that. If you did not like what was on your daily plate you might be more inclined to go in for extras. The occasional circus was what helped you to stomach the bread.
Owen, in unusually puritanical mood, decided that he himself was a bread man rather than a circuses man; and bent his head grimly over a query from Finance.
Some time later Nikos appeared in the doorway. In this heat they always kept the door open. Besides, it improved communication. Owen could monitor what was going on in the office and Nikos could listen in when required to Owen’s conversations.
‘A Mr. Nicodemus to see you,’ he said.
‘What about?’
‘A tip-off, I think.’
‘Oh, right. Show him in.’
Mr. Nicodemus was a short, plump Levantine in the dark suit of the businessman and the normal red, tassled, flower-pot-like tarboosh of the Cairo effendi. He came forward with outstretched hand.
‘You won’t know me, Captain Owen, but I come to Cairo frequently on business. I am the Levant agent for a large European engineering company.’
He presented Owen with his card, French on one side, Arabic on the other. French was the normal language for business in Egypt, although English was catching on. Mr. Nicodemus spoke in English.
Owen motioned him to a chair and began the usual prolonged courteous enquiries as to health, fatigue and general condition which were the essential preliminary to any Arabic discussion of business. Another indispensable preliminary was the offer of hospitality. A suffragi brought in two little cups of Turkish coffee. Mr. Nicodemus sipped his coffee and praised God and Owen for the flavour; and then business could begin.
‘Some time ago,’ he said, ‘I was contacted and asked if I could supply an urgent order for a client in Egypt. The lack of client details, given the nature of the order, made me’- Mr. Nicodemus paused-‘uneasy.’
‘What was the nature of the order?’
‘It was for explosives.’
‘You are in the munitions trade?’
‘Yes. Among other things. A small part of our business, actually.’
‘And the purchaser?’
‘No sale was made. My company does not supply explosives to unknown clients. We said we were unable to supply and I thought no more about the matter. But then this week I learned that one of our competitors had also been approached and had agreed to supply.’
‘And that, of course, makes a difference.’
Mr. Nicodemus smiled.
‘It does, indeed. My company is all for virtue, Captain Owen, but it hates losing out to those who are less virtuous.’
‘Very reasonably. And so you thought you would have a word with me?’
‘Exactly!’
‘Well, I am interested, Mr. Nicodemus, I must admit. May I ask, though-it is best if we understand each other-are you offering this information…gratuit?. Or are you looking for…?’
Mr. Nicodemus shook his head hurriedly.
‘Oh, no, Captain Owen. Thank you, no. It is being offered purely disinterestedly. I just thought you might like to know.’
‘Indeed, I would. As I say, this kind of information interests me considerably. I wonder, though, would you perhaps add a little more detail? About the purchaser, for instance?’
‘The person who contacted me claimed to be acting on behalf of an Egyptian quarrying company. But I deal with quite a few quarry companies, Captain Owen, and I know that they do not place orders like that.’
He leaned forward and gave Owen a small slip of paper. ‘That was the original specification,’ he said.
Owen glanced at it.
‘Small,’ he said. ‘About enough to demolish a small building.’
Mr. Nicodemus nodded.
‘I thought, perhaps, a tomb?’ he said.
Robbers were always breaking into tombs. Usually they dug their way in. Occasionally, however, they found their way blocked, and then they blasted.
‘Perhaps. Can you give me some more details? The delivery date, for instance?’
‘One month after signature of contract. But, Captain Owen, that was when they first approached me. They said then that delivery was urgent, so perhaps-’
‘Your rival might have agreed to a shorter delivery?’
Mr. Nicodemus nodded.
‘It is a small order,’ he said. ‘It could be supplied from stocks. Then it would be only a question of transport.’
‘And entry. It would have to come through customs.’
Mr. Nicodemus spread his hands.
‘These things are not always declared,’ he said.
Owen glanced at the piece of paper.
‘Where was it to be delivered to?’ he asked.
‘Suez. To await collection.’
‘The name?’
‘The name on the original specification,’ said Mr. Nicodemus, ‘was Dhondy. Of course, it may be different now.’
‘But Suez, anyway?’
‘That, too, might be different. I can, perhaps, help you a little. The name of the supplier is Herbst-Wickel.’
‘Your competitor?’
‘Exactly.’ Mr. Nicodemus gave a little smile.
‘Would it be on the shipment certificate?’
‘Not necessarily. Not unless they were very foolish.’
‘Old labels, perhaps,’ said Owen.
‘Perhaps. I can tell you one thing more. Herbst-Wickel is asking for payment in gold. It’s what you do,’ said Mr. Nicodemus deprecatingly, ‘when you have doubts about the client. Now, of course, gold can always be obtained, but it takes a little more time and it costs a little more money, and I gather that the client is, or was, having some difficulty.’ Mr. Nicodemus had no more information to impart and shortly afterwards rose to go. Owen thanked him for his helpfulness.
‘Not at all,’ said Mr. Nicodemus politely.
He hesitated, however, in the doorway.
‘It would be nice,’ he said, ‘if my helpfulness could be remembered. At some convenient moment.’
‘Had you a moment in mind?’ asked Owen.
‘Well,’ said Mr. Nicodemus, ‘it so happens that we shall shortly be tendering for a contract to supply arms to the Khedivial Army. It is a substantial contract.’
‘More substantial than a one-off contract to supply explosives to an unknown client?’
‘Certainly.’ Mr. Nicodemus smiled. ‘You see, I am open with you.’
‘It’s the best way. Well, I will be equally open with you. I am grateful for your information but I am unable to influence the award of the contract. That is a matter entirely for the Purchasing Department.’
‘Of course!’ said Mr. Nicodemus hurriedly. ‘Of course!’ Still smiling, however and still waiting.
At last Owen understood.
‘Are Herbst-Wickel also tendering?’
‘I believe they are,’ said Mr. Nicodemus, now turning definitely to go.
‘Were you listening?’ asked Owen.
‘Yes,’ said Nikos.
‘What do you think?’
‘Genuine.’
‘Think we should follow it up?’
Nikos nodded. They usually did with reports of this nature. Explosives was something the administration took seriously. The big users, the quarrying companies and the construction firms working on the dams, were obliged by law to keep explosives under lock and key and notify at once any loss. Others could obtain explosives only in limited quantities and from registered suppliers. All imports were against a licence and licences were normally granted only to registered suppliers. Any report of an illegal import was at once followed up.