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hall. 'Kostagis came to see you, to pay monies he owe, but you not in.
Did you see Mr. Angeli? He pay you the monies?'
Melanie's eyes opened wide.
'Kostagis paid the money to Mr. Angeli ?'
'Melanie. . .Kostagis came in, all smiles. 'You should have reminded
me of money I owed. Mr. Angeli give it to you?'
'Kostagis,' she breathed, in some dismay, 'you know about the need
for secrecy ... I mean, we shouldn't have let anyone know I was
working for you.' Even as she spoke the more momentous aspect of
this was striking her forcibly. If Lean knew she had been earning
money, then She caught her breath. He had dismissed Olga only a
short while after Kostagis's visit! 'You told Mr. Angeli I'd been
working for you for some time?'
'Certainly. For there was no need for secrecy, after all'
'No need?' she echoed quiveringly, and Kostagis shook his head.
'That's right. I have a friend who lawyer, and he tell me there is no
problem, because already you have the work permit.'
'When did you know this, Kostagis? - that it was permissible to work
for you, I mean?'
'Right away, because I think to myself that we shall all be in trouble if
we are breaking the law. So I make - what you say? - discreet
inquiries, arid this friend he say it is all right. I mean to tell you, but I
forget.' He shrugged. 'It is no matter.'
No matter. Melanie could have wept. All the while she was keeping
quiet, allowing Olga to brand her a thief, and even handing over that
money, her caution had been unnecessary. Everything was clear now,
though. On learning from Kostagis that she, Melanie, had been
earning money Lean had sent for Olga and, it seemed reasonable to
assume, had questioned her more closely about the affair of the theft
from his mother's handbag. Olga must have broken down - and
Melanie could easily imagine that too, if Lean had treated her to
anything like the scene to which Melanie herself had once been
treated on being foolish enough to arouse his wrath.
Lean was waiting for her when she and Richard arrived back at the
hotel after dining at the Astir. He came from the bar where he had
been sitting talking to one of the guests.
'Melanie/ he said, without even a glance at Richard, 'I would like to
speak to you.' Such a quiet tone, and accents so different from those
which were familiarly edged with contempt and disgust. 'In my
sitting- room, please.'
'Yes/ Her heart fluttered. Was it not too late, after all? 'Will you
excuse me, Richard?'
He looked far from pleased, and for a space Melanie thought he
would make some demur. But eventually he shrugged, said good
night, nodded to Lean, and then left them alone.
Lean did not speak as he led the way to the door leading to his suite.
On entering the sitting-room he stepped aside and she preceded him.
Closing the door, he stood for a moment with his back to it, regarding
her in silence.
'May I take your wrap?' he asked at length, coming forward and
extending a hand. She gave him the wrap and once more his eyes
roved over her. She blushed and lowered her head. £Sit down,' invited
Lean; carefully draping her wrap over the back of one of the chairs. 'I
have some money for you.'
'Yes.'
'You know?' He gazed down at her in surprise before, bringing up a
chair, he seated himself on the opposite side of the wide marble
fireplace.
'I was in when Kostagis called - upstairs on Sandra's balcony. Also
I've been to see him. He said you had the money;' Her heart was
beating far too quickly, and she had to clasp her hands together in
order to stop the nervous twitching of her fingers. 'I called on him
because I guessed why he had been here/
Her words had an odd effect on Lean. His eyes narrowed and his
voice became harshly accusing.
'You allowed me to believe Olga, to accuse you of theft, when all the
time you had actually earned the money in your possession. I'd like
your explanation, if you please.'
'I - thought I was breaking the law, thought I shouldn't be doing two
jobs.' He looked at her in puzzlement and she went on to explain
further. His black brows came together in a frown.
'You actually believed a thing like that? I should have given you
credit for more sense. I had obtained a work permit for you and that
was all that was required. Your friend must have been misinformed.'
'I realize that now.'
'And it was out of this money that you paid for the taxi.' He spoke to
himself, the frown on his brow deepening. But after a while his face
cleared and he looked a trifle tired, she thought. His changed
expression did not take away the arrogance from his mouth, though,
or alter that air of god-like superiority. 'I owe you an apology,' he said
at last, and the manner of his speech betrayed the difficulty he
underwent in owning to that. 'I'm sorry, Melanie, both for accusing
you on that occasion, and also on the previous occasion. It's probably
of little interest to you now, but Olga has gone from here; she's no
longer in my employ.'
'I know. ...' Her mouth felt dry, but she added, 'Sandra told me about
her new post.' Dejection was slowly creeping over her as his words of
a moment ago registered. 'It's probably of little interest to you now. ...'
He did not want her, then.
'The money - that which was brought by your friend, Kostagis, and
also that taken from your room by Olga - is there, on the table just
behind you.'
She turned, but did not touch the roll of notes lying at her elbow.
'You managed to get it back from Olga?' She gave a tiny shrug. 'It
didn't matter.'
'Most certainly it mattered.' His tone was edged with steel, and as
Melanie noted the swift anger in his eyes a tingle shot along her spine.
Olga had certainly lived through an unpleasant few minutes before
receiving her dismissal. 'The money belongs to you.' He paused;
Melanie felt tensed and half rose from her chair. But before she had
time to carry out her intention of bidding him good night he spoke,
asking if he could get her a drink. 'It's only half-past eleven,' he said,
noting her eyes flicker to the clock on the wall.
She accepted die drink, even though she did not want it, and a
moment or two later she was holding the glass to her lips. ->
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