This United state

She looked up as the wine waiter showed her a bottle. He waited while she looked at it, then at him.

'I ordered 1992 – that's 1994,' she said sharply.

'I'm sorry, madame. I must have misunderstood you.' 'I spoke clearly enough.'

Tweed glanced down towards the main entrance. Rupert and Basil had just come in together. They strolled along the aisle and then Rupert paused by their table. He was staring at Sharon.

'I can recognize Venus-like beauty soon as I see it.'

Sharon glanced up with a blank expression. She stared at him, then lowered her eyes, her mouth tight with annoyance.

'Bob, aren't you going to introduce me?' Rupert persisted.

Basil stood by his side, smiling blandly. He adjusted a silk handkerchief in his top pocket.

'No, I'm not,' Newman told Rupert brusquely. 'And for your information this is a private dinner party.'

'I say, I say. A cordon sanitaire, as the French would say. Excuse me for being alive. Basil and I are on the way to the bar.'

'Your usual watering hole. I suggest you shove off there now.'

Newman had pushed back his chair. If necessary, he was ready to grab Rupert by the scruff of the neck and escort him through the Brasserie next door into the bar beyond. At that moment the head waiter, sensing trouble, appeared.

'Is everything all right – to your satisfaction, I hope?' 'It's tewwific,' Rupert told him. 'They want the same all over again.'

Before Newman could intervene Basil pulled at Rupert's sleeve. He said something in an undertone and guided Rupert away from them into the Brasserie.

'Everything is perfect,' Tweed told the head waiter. 'You have served us a meal to remember.'

'Thank you, sir…'

By then they were well into their main course. Tweed and Newman had chosen 'fillet of turbot. Sharon and Paula were both eating skewers of scallops and lobster on a bed of mashed potato with diced vegetables. During brief pauses in her conversation Sharon had delicately devoured large portions of her meal. Now she put down her knife and fork and looked at Paula.

'Who was that silly schoolboy?'

'Oh, that was Rupert Strangeways. His father is Sir Guy Strangeways.'

'I met him several times in Washington – Sir Guy, I mean,' Sharon explained. 'A nice man. I shouldn't say it, but he deserves a better offspring.'

'If you hadn't said it,' Newman told her, 'I would have done. Anyway, he's gone now…'

There was silence for a while as they concentrated on the meal. After dessert had been served and consumed Tweed posed his question to Sharon.

'Have you encountered a man called Jake Ronstadt?'

A heavier silence descended on the table. Sharon was dabbing at her lips with her serviette. She turned to look at Newman.

'Tweed is an interesting man. He fires intriguing questions at the most unexpected moment.' She smiled warmly at Tweed. 'Like a detective. Yes, I have encountered Ronstadt twice at the Embassy in London. Briefly on both occasions. I think he's a horrible man. Like a gangster. I can't imagine what he's doing at the Embassy.'

'He's not there now, Sharon,' said Tweed.

'Oh, have they sent him back to Washington?' 'No, he's at the Euler.'

'The Euler?'

'It's a top hotel here in Basel, no more than a mile from where we are sitting.'

'I find that very peculiar Why here in Basel?' Sharon asked.

'I've no idea. Someone who knows him by sight spotted him, told me. I was just curious.'

`So am I,' she said. 'Well, I'll be moving on soon. Not sure exactly when.'

'Moving on?' Tweed queried.

'Yes.' She turned, gave him her full attention. 'I was going to suggest we have coffee in the bar with a liqueur. That's when I was going to tell you.' She looked up as the waiter appeared. 'Can we have coffee in the bar? A quiet table if you can manage that.'

'Certainly, madame.'

Newman had turned round in his chair to survey the restaurant behind him. There were just a few couples here and there. He then saw Ed Osborne sitting at a table by himself. Osborne had a grim look on his face. Newman gave him a small salute. Osborne pretended not to see it, bent his head over a newspaper. What has disturbed him? Newman wondered.

Earlier, when Basil guided a wobbling Rupert through the Brasserie, the second restaurant in the hotel, and on into the bar, he had to hold him up. He had found Rupert at a table in the lobby. There were several empty glasses on the table Rupert was sitting at.

'Need another drink,' Rupert mumbled.

'Are you sure?'

'When I say need 'nother drink, I need 'nother drink. Wha's the matter, Basil? Don't understand the King's English?'

'It's the Queen's English these. days. Has been for long as I can remember.'

'Basil!' Rupert said aggressively. 'You tellin' me how you want me to speak my own language? 'Nother Scotch. Wanna sit down.'

The bar was empty. For the moment there was no one behind the serving counter. Basil guessed the girl had taken an order into the restaurant. He kept Rupert moving. There was another exit which led out straight onto the street.

'You need some fresh air first,' Basil said firmly. 'Then we can come back and get something to drink.'

'Fresh air? Can't drink fresh air. Didn't you know that?'

'I'll bring you a drink outside,' Basil lied.

'Against Swish law. Drinkin' in the street. End up in pokey, we will.'

'Almost there.'

Basil was anxious to get Rupert out of sight before someone returned to the bar. He got a strong hold on Rupert, propelled him to the door at the rear. He opened it with his back, hauled Rupert out with him. The outside air hit them like a blast from the Arctic. Rupert's legs gave way. Basil let him slide down until he was slumped with his back inside the alcove. Then he left him there, confident he would recover swiftly. He had no doubt Rupert would go straight back inside the bar to order another drink.

Basil hurried the short distance along the road, entered the hotel by the main door, took the lift to his room. He reappeared very quickly. He was wearing a long black overcoat which almost came to his ankles. He walked off into the night.

When Sharon's party walked through the Brasserie Tweed saw Nield and Butler having dinner at a table on their own. Neither of them looked up or said a word as they walked past. At another table, by himself, sat Marler.. When he saw them coming he picked up- his newspaper and began studying it.

'I'll go in first,' Newman said to Sharon. 'See if it's all clear.'

'I'm coming with you. People like that schoolboy don't worry me.'

A little distance behind them Tweed followed with Paula by his side. She kept her voice down.

'Rupert seems to have reverted to his normal obnoxious self.'

'I was sceptical about what he said to Newman. No more than a pipe dream, I'd say. He probably believed what he was saying at the time.'

'You really think so?'

'You sound dubious.'

'I think he was putting on an act. Here we are. And no sign of either of them, thank heavens.'

They ordered liqueurs from the girl who, at that moment, took up her position behind the bar counter. As soon as she saw them she came over and took their orders.