You were told that I was a secret agent, a spy. You wished to meet me because you are a writer, young and romantic.
You are disillusioned,But take cheer, my youngfriend. Presently you will see a paper, a quite important paper for which several men and women have risked their lives, come to me.
Ausable did not fit the description of a secret agentFowler had imagined. As the fat man realized that hewas boring Fowler, he chuckled to himself unlocking thedoor of his room,letting his frustrated guest enter.
Diapositiva: 2
Max,you gave me quite a start. I thought you were in Berlin. What are you doing here in my room?
The report that is being brought to you tonight concerning some new missiles. I thought I would take it from you. It will be safer in my hands than in yours.
As he spoke, Ausable closed the doorbehind him and turned on the lights.As the light came on, Fowlerhad his first surprise.Halfway across the room stooda man with a pistol in his hand.
Diapositiva: 3
I’m going to raise the devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it,This is the second time in a month that somebody has got into my room through that nuisance of a balcony!
Balcony?No, a passkey. I did not know about the balcony. It might have saved me some trouble had I known.
Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily. He was extremely irritated.
Diapositiva: 4
KNOCK KNOCK
It belongs to the next apartment.It’s not my balcony.
You see,through that door there - used to be the living room. It had the balcony, which extends under my window now. You can get onto it from the empty room two doors down — and somebody did, last month. The management promised to block it off. But they haven't
Suddenly, someone knocked the door.Fowler jumped at the sudden knocking. Max got scared and his face was black with anger.
Diapositiva: 5
Send them away! Iwill wait on the balcony. Send them away or I’ll shoot and take my chances!
That will be the police,What will you do now, Max?If I do not answer the door, they will enter anyway. The door is unlocked. And they will not hesitate to shoot.
Keeping his body twisted so that his gun still covered the fat man,Max swung his legs andjumped over the window-sill.
Diapositiva: 6
Here is the drink you ordered for when you returned.
There were no police.Only Henry, whom I was expecting.
But...the police...
But won’t that man out on the balcony…?
No,he won’t return. You see, my young friend, there is no balcony.
The door opened and a waiter stood there with a tray,a bottle and two glasses.He uncorked thebottle and left the room.