Erika was now crying with joy. Running round the big table desk she threw her arms about Sir Pellinore's neck, kissed him again and again, and stammered out her relief and happiness.
'Steady on, m'dear,' he said after a moment, 'or you'll have me tryin' to take you off Gregory yet. It's time we had a glass of wine. You look as though you could do with a tonic' Leaning forward, he pressed the bell on his desk twice.
Two minutes later the door opened. The elderly housemaid came in carrying a magnum of Louis Roederer '28 in an ice bucket. Behind her, framed in the doorway, stood Gregory. His head was bandaged, his left arm was in a sling, and he was pale from loss of blood; but he was smiling.
He was looking at Erika and she at him. No words were needed. All the love they felt for one another was in their eyes.
Sir Pellinore too was smiling. Brushing up his white moustache he murmured to himself, 'The greatest coup he has ever pulled off; and I haven't pulled off a bad one myself.'