speak, the Colonel thought. Leave it at English. That is about what they have left. They should be allowed to keep the name of the language. Cripps will probably ration it shortly anyway.
“Please put me through to her at once,” he told the concierge.
The concierge commenced to dial numbers. “You may talk over there, my Colonel,” he said. “I have made the connection.”
“You’re fast.”
“Over there,” the concierge said.
Inside the booth the Colonel lifted the receiver and said, automatically, “Colonel Cantwell speaking.”
“I called twice, Richard,” the girl said. “But they explained that you were out. Where were you?”
“At the market. How are you, my lovely?”
“No one listens on this phone at this hour. I am your lovely. Whoever that is.”
“You. Did you sleep well?”
“It was like skiing in the dark. Not really skiing but really dark.”
“That’s the way it should be. Why did you wake so early? You’ve frightened my concierge.”
“If it is not un-maidenly, how soon can we meet, and where?”
“Where you wish and when you wish.”
“Do you still have the stones and did Miss Portrait help any?”
“Yes to both questions. The stones are in my upper left
