Chapter 5 Chapter 4 The Return of the Passengers

"Honestly," said Mrs. Sutcliffe angrily, looking out of the Long Hotel window, "I don't understand why it always rains when I get back to England, and makes everything look listless." "I think it's great to be back," said Jennifer, "everyone on the street speaks English! We'll be having real tea and pastries right away, with bread and butter and jam and decent cakes .” "My dear, I hope you will not think of such isolation," said Mrs. Sutcliffe. "If you say you would rather stay at home, why should I bother to take you abroad, all the way to Persia?" bay?"

"I'm not opposed to staying in a foreign country for a month or two," Jennifer said, "I'm just saying I'm happy to be back." "Get out of my way now, darling, and let me see if they've brought all the luggage. Honestly, I really think—I've always felt that people are so much worse these days than they were before the war. If I hadn't been watching things I'm sure that guy would have taken my green zippered duffel bag in Tilbury. There was another guy in Tilbury who was always walking around next to our luggage I saw him again on the train afterwards. I believe, you know, that these thieves wait for the boat to come in, and if anyone gets flustered or gets seasick, they grab their suitcases and slip off."

"Oh, Mom, you're always thinking wild things," Jennifer said. "You think everyone you meet is a bad person." "Most of them are bad people," said Mrs. Sutcliffe coldly. "The British are not bad people," Jennifer said.She is loyal to England. "That's worse," said her mother. "Arabs are never expected to be good, but in England you can be careless and the bad ones are easier to prey on. Now let me count them. Big green suitcases and Big black suitcase, two small brown suitcases, zip-up bag, golf clubs and tennis racket, handbag, canvas suitcase—yes, one, two, three, four, five, six—all right. Ten All four are here."

"Shall we go to tea and have a snack now?" Jennifer said. "Tea? It's only three o'clock." "I'm starving." "Are you sure you're going to the restaurant by yourself?" "My God, Mum," said Jennifer, "how old do you think I am? Can you give me some money? I don't have British money." She took the ten-shilling note her mother had given her, and went out of the room with a mocking air. The bedside phone rang.Mrs Sutcliffe went to the telephone and picked it up. "Hello... yes... yes... I'm Mrs Sutcliffe..."

There is a knock on the door.Mrs. Sutcliffe said "Wait a minute" into the receiver, put it down, and walked to the door.A young man in dark blue overalls stood with a small tool bag. "I fix the light," he said briskly. "There's something wrong with the light in this apartment. They sent me to fix it." "Oh well……" She steps aside.The light repairer came in. "Where's the bathroom?" "Inside—through the other bedroom." She went back to the phone. "I'm sorry... what did you just say?" "My name is Derek O'Connor. Mrs Sutcliffe, may I come upstairs to your room? It is about your brother."

"About Bob? Any—any news from him?" "I think—yes." "Oh... oh, I see... okay, come up. The room is on the third floor, Room 310." She sits on the bed.She already understood what the news was. Presently there was a knock at the door, and she went to it and let in a young man who shook her hand with graceful restraint. "Are you from the Foreign Office?" "My name is Derek O'Connor. I was sent by my superiors because there didn't seem to be anyone else suitable to bring you the news." "Please tell me," said Mrs. Sutcliffe. "He's dead. Is he?"

"Yes, that's right, Mrs. Sutcliffe. He flew Prince Ali Yusuf out of Ramat. Their plane crashed in the mountains." "Why haven't I heard--why hasn't anyone wired me to the ship?" "Didn't get any definite news until a day or two ago. Until then, it was only known that the plane was missing. There was some hope in that case. But now that the wreckage has been found. I'm sure you'll take some comfort in the fact that death was immediate. .” "Is the prince dead too?" "yes." "I'm not at all surprised," said Mrs Sutcliffe.Her voice trembled a little, but she kept her emotions under control. "He's been doing dangerous stuff, you know—always flying new planes, experimenting with new aerobatics. I've seen very few of them in the past four years." To him. Ah, come on, you can't change a person's temper, can you?"

"True," said her visitor, "I don't think it can be changed." "Henry always said he was going to fall to his death sooner or later." She seemed to take a kind of sad consolation from her husband's accurate prophecy.A tear rolled down her cheek, and she went for her handkerchief. "It was a blow," she said. "I understand—I'm sorry." "Of course Bob can't get away with it," said Mrs Sutcliffe. "I mean I wouldn't ask him to quit when he's piloted the Prince's plane. But he's a capable pilot. I You can be sure it wasn't his fault that he hit the hill."

"No," said O'Connor, "certainly not his fault. The only hope of getting the Prince out of Ramat is to fly in all weathers. It was a dangerous flight, and something went wrong." Mrs Sutcliffe nodded. "I can understand," she said. "Thank you for telling me." "Besides," said O'Connor, "I must ask you something. Did your brother ask you to take anything back to England?" "I need something?" said Mrs. Sutcliffe. "What do you mean?" "Did he give you a package--a little package to take back to someone in England?"

She shook her head in surprise: "No. How did you think he wanted to give me a package?" "There's an important parcel, and we think your brother may have sent it to someone. He came to see you at the hotel that day—I mean the day of the revolution." "I know that. He left a note. But it didn't say anything--just about playing tennis or golf the next day or something unimportant. I guess at the time of the note he couldn't have Knowing that he would have to fly the prince out of Ramat that afternoon." "That's all?" "In the note? That's all."

"Have you kept the note, Mrs Sutcliffe?" "Keeping the note he left? No, of course I didn't. It said nothing important. I tore it up and threw it away. Why should I keep it?" "No reason," said O'Connor, "I just thought—" "Thinking of what?" said Mrs. Sutcliffe displeased. "I wonder if there's some - other words lurking in there. After all -" he smiled, "you know, there's this thing called secret ink." "Cryptographic ink!" said Mrs. Sutcliffe, with a look of great disgust. "You mean the kind used in spy novels?" "Oh, I'm afraid that's what I mean," said O'Connor apologetically. "What a fool," said Mrs. Sutcliffe. "I'm sure Bob would never use secret ink or anything like that. Why would he? He's a good practical, sensible fellow." A teardrop And she ran down her cheeks again. "Why, where's my handbag? I'll use my handkerchief. Maybe I left my handbag in another room." "I'll get it for you," O'Connor said. He walked through the door in the room, stopped abruptly, and saw a young man in overalls bent over a suitcase, who stood up in alarm and stared at him. "I'm a light repairman," said the young man hastily. "There's something wrong with the light here." O'Connor flipped the light switch. "I don't see anything wrong with the lamp," he said pleasantly. "They must have got the room number wrong," said the light-fixer. He packed his tool bag and hurried out of the room into the hallway. Frowning, O'Connor took the handbag from the dressing table to Mrs Sutcliffe. "I'm sorry," he said, picking up the phone. "I'm room 310. Did you just send a light repairman over here to check the lights here? Okay... okay, I'm staying on." he waits. "No one was sent? I guess you didn't send anyone. No, there's nothing unusual about it." He put down the phone and turned to Mrs Sutcliffe. "There's nothing wrong with the lights here," he said, "and there's no light fixer in the tent." "Then what is this man here for? Is he a thief?" "He might have been stealing just now." Mrs Sutcliffe hurriedly examined her handbag. "He didn't take what was in my handbag. The money was in the bag." "Are you sure, Mrs. Sutcliffe, that your brother has not handed you anything for you to pack and take home?" "I'm absolutely sure no," said Mrs Sutcliffe. "Or to your daughter—you have a daughter, don't you?" "Yes. She's having tea and pastry downstairs in the dining-room. Oh, I'm so afraid to tell her about Bob. Maybe we'll tell her when we get home..." "Is it possible that your brother will give her something?" "Impossible, I'm sure he can't." "There's another possibility," said O'Connor, "that he might have hidden something in your luggage when he was waiting for you in your room that day." "But why would Bob do such a thing? The idea is just absurd." "It's not that absurd either. It looks like Prince Ali Yusuf might have given something to your brother for safekeeping, and your brother thought it would be safer with your things than he could keep it himself." "I don't think it's possible," said Mrs Sutcliffe. "I was wondering if you would allow me to check it out." "You mean to search my luggage? To unpack it?" Mrs. Sutcliffe raised her voice as she spoke of unpacking, as if about to cry. "You really shouldn't be asked to unpack. But this matter may be extremely important. You know, I can help you unpack," he persuaded. "I often unpack for my mother. She said I was very good at unpacking." He used all his charms, which Colonel Pikeway considered one of his prized talents. "Ah, well," said Mrs Sutcliffe, relenting, "I think—if it's what you say—I mean, if it's really important—" "This could be extremely important," said Derek O'Connor. "Ah, now," he smiled at her, "let's do it." Three quarters of an hour later, Jennifer came back with good tea and snacks.She looked across the room and let out a breath of surprise. "Mom, what did you do?" "We unpacked," said Mrs Sutcliffe displeasedly, "and now we unpack. This is Mr. O'Connor. This is my daughter Jennifer." "But why do you pack and unpack your luggage?" "Don't ask me why," said her mother quickly, "I don't think he gave you anything, Jennifer?" "Uncle Bob gave me something to bring back? No. You opened my things too?" "We unpacked everything," said Derek O'Connor cheerfully. "We found nothing, and now we're unpacking. Mrs. Sutcliffe, I think you should have a drink." Tea or something. Can I get you something to eat? Maybe a brandy soda?" He went over to the phone. "I should like a cup of tea," said Mrs Sutcliffe. "I had very good tea and pastries," Jennifer said, "bread and butter and sandwiches and cakes, and then the waiter brought me some sandwiches because I asked him if that was all right and he said yes .really interesting." O'Connor ordered a cup of tea, and packed Mrs Sutcliffe's luggage skillfully and neatly, to which Mrs Sutcliffe could not but express her admiration. "Your mother seems to have trained you to pack," she said. "Oh, I'm good at all sorts of little things," O'Connor said with a smile. His mother had long since died, and he had learned the art of packing and unpacking luggage while serving under Colonel Pikeway. "One more thing, Mrs. Sutcliffe. I wish you would take good care of yourself." "Be careful of myself? How can I be careful?" "Oh," said O'Connor vaguely, "revolutions are delicate things, and they involve many things. Have you been in London long?" "We're going to the country tomorrow. My husband will drive us there." "That's all right. But—don't take any risks. If anything out of the ordinary happens, call 999 right away." "Oh—!" Jennifer was in high spirits. "Dial 999. I've always wanted to call that number." "Don't be silly, Jennifer," said her mother. Excerpt from local newspaper: A man was charged in Magistrates Court yesterday with breaking and entering the house of Mr Henry Sutcliffe with attempted theft.On Sunday morning, while the family was at church, Mrs Sutcliffe's bedroom was ransacked and the interior was in chaos.The kitchen staff were preparing lunch at the time and no noise was heard.The man was arrested by police when he fled the house.Apparently, he was disturbed while committing the crime, so he fled empty-handed. The person claimed his name was Andrew Bauer, had no fixed residence, and pleaded guilty in court.The individual testified that he was hoping to steal cash because he was unemployed.Mrs Sutcliffe's jewellery, with the exception of a few pieces which she wears with her, is kept in the bank vault. "I told you to have the French window in the drawing-room repaired," was Mr. Sutcliffe's comment on the robbery at home. "My dear Henry," said Mrs. Sutcliffe, "you must know that I have been absent for the last three months. Anyway, I remember reading in some book that if thieves want to get into a house, they will find a way of getting in." " She looked again at the local paper, then went on thoughtfully: "Look how pompous they say it, 'kitchen staff.' But that's not what it really is, only Mrs. Ellis, old and deaf and handicapped, and Barney who comes to help every Sunday morning. The silly daughter of the Dwyer family." "What I don't understand," Jennifer said, "is how the police knew someone was stealing from our house and arrived in time to catch the thief." "It's strange that he didn't take anything," said her mother. "Are you sure of that, Joan?" said her husband. "Didn't you doubt it at first?" Mrs Sutcliffe sighed exasperatedly. "It's not the kind of thing you can tell right off the bat. My bedroom is a mess—stuff is strewn about, drawers are drawn out, and emptied. I have to You have to see things one by one to be sure - now that I think about it, I didn't see the best Jacquemar scarf." "I'm sorry, Mother. I took it. Let the wind blow from the boat into the Mediterranean. I borrowed the scarf. I was going to tell you, but then I forgot." "Seriously, Jennifer, how many times have I told you that you should tell me before borrowing something." "Can I have some more pudding?" Jennifer said, changing the subject. "I think so. Mrs. Ellis can really make cakes. It's worth the yelling all the time talking to her. But I hope you don't think you're too gluttonous at school. You gotta remember Greenfields isn't a An ordinary school." "I don't know if I really want to study in Fangcaodi," Jennifer said. "I know a girl whose cousin went to Yerba Medley and she says it sucks. They spend a lot of time teaching students how to get in and out of Rolls-Royces and you have lunch with the Queen There are some rules." "Come on, stop it, Jennifer," said Mrs Sutcliffe, "you should know how lucky you are to be in the Meadows. Miss Bulstrode isn't every girl, let me tell you." You are admitted to this school entirely by your father's importance and your aunt Rosamund's influence. You are very lucky. And," said Mrs Sutcliffe, "in case you are invited Lunch with the Queen, if you know the rules." "Ah, well," said Jennifer, "I think the Queen often invites people to lunch who don't know the rules--African chiefs, jockeys, Arab patriarchs." "African chiefs are the most refined," her father said.He had recently returned from a short business trip to Ghana. "It's the same with the Arab chiefs," said Mrs. Sutcliffe. "They're very polite." "Do you remember that time when the Arab patriarch invited us to dinner?" Jennifer said. Eat it? I mean if any Arabian patriarch did the same thing when he was eating roast lamb at Buckingham Palace, it would surprise the Queen, wouldn't you?" "Okay, stop it, Jennifer." Her mother ended the conversation. Derek O'Connor sat in an unobtrusive seat in the back row of the Magistrates Court as Andrew Bauer of no fixed abode was sentenced to three months in prison for trespassing his home, and he pulled up the museum section number called. "When we got the guy, he had nothing on him," he said. "We gave him a lot of time." "Who is he? Is it someone we know?" "They hire him for this kind of thing. The man has no brains, but he's said to be meticulous about what he does." "He accepted the sentence well?" said Colonel Pikeway, grinning at the other end of the line. "Yes. Like a well-behaved fool who accidentally strays. You wouldn't associate him with any big business. His value, of course, lies in that." "He didn't find anything," thought Colonel Pikeway, "and you haven't found anything. It doesn't look, does it, as if there's nothing to be found? We think Rawlinson hid things with his sister, and the idea seems to be it is wrong." "Others seem to have the same idea." "It seems too obvious. It may be a deliberate trick for us." "It is likely so. Is there any other possibility?" "Many possibilities. It might still be in Ramat. Maybe it's hidden somewhere in the Ritz-Savoy Hotel, or someone Rawlinson gave it to on the way to the airstrip. Robinson There might be some truth in Mr.'s hint, too. Perhaps the thing fell into the hands of a woman. Or it might have been in Mrs. Sutcliffe's possession all along without her knowing it, and threw it overboard into the Red Sea, along with the useless things. " "If so," he added meaningfully, "it couldn't be better." "Oh, sir, but it's worth a lot of money." "Human life is worth a lot," said Colonel Pikeway.