'Abel, is that you?'

'Yes, Henry, I thought you'd want to be the first to hear that Kane knows everything, so now the battle is out in the open.'

'What do you mean, he knows everything? Do you think he knows I'm involved?' asked Henry anxiously.

'He sure does, and he also seems to be aware of the speciaj company accounts, my holdings in Lester's Bank and Interstate Airways!

'How could he possibly know everything in such detail? Only you and I know about the special accounts.'

'And Curtis Fenton,' said Abel, interrupting him.

Might. But he would never inform Kane.'

'He must have. There's no one else. Don't forget that Kane dealt directly with Curds Fenton when I brought the Richmond Group from his bank. I suppose they must have maintained some sort of contact all along.'

'Jesus.'

'You sound worried, Henry!

'If William Kane knows everything, it's a different ball game. I'm warning you, Abel, he's not in the habit of losing!

'Nor am V replied Abel. 'And William Kane doesn't frighten me; not while I'm holding all the aces in my hand. What is our latest holding in Kane's stock?'

'Off the top of my head, you own six per cent of Lesteis Bank, and ten per cent of Interstate Airways, and odd bits of other companies they're involved with. You only need another two per cerit of Lester's to invoke Article Seven and Peter Parfitt is still biting.'

'Excellent,' said Abel. 'I don't see how the situation could be better.

Continue talking to Par - fitt, remembering that I'm in no hurry while Kane can't even approach him. For the time being we'll let Kane wonder what we're up to. And be sure you do nothing until I return from Europe. After my phone conversation with Mr. Kane this morning, I can assure you that, to use a gentleman's expression, he's perspiring but I'll let you into a secret, Henry. I'm not sweating. He can go on that way because I have no intention of making a move until I'm good and ready.'

'Fine,' said Henry. 'I'll keep you informed if anything comes up at this end that we should worry about.'

'You must get it through your head, Henry, there's nothing for us to worry about. We have your friend, Mr. Kane, by the balls, and I now intend to squeeze them very slowly.'

'I shall enjoy watchLing that,' said Henry, sounding a little happier.

'Sometimes I think you hate Kane more than I do.'

Henry laughed nervously. 'Have a good trip to Europe!

Abel put the phone back on the hook and sat staring into space as he considered his next move, his fingers still tapping noisily on the desk.

His secretary came in.

'Get Mr. Curtis Fenton at the Continental Trust Bank,' he said, without looking at her. His fingers continued to tap. His eyes continued to stare.

A few moments later the phone rang.

'Fenton?'

~Good morning, Mr. Rosnovski, how are you?'

'I want you to close all my accounts with your bank.'

There was no reply from the other end.

Tid you hear me, Fenton?'

'Yes,' said the stupefied banker. 'May I ask why, Mr. Rosnovski?'

'Because Judas never was my favourite apostle, Fenton, that's why. As of this moment, you are no longer on the board of the Baron Group. You will shortly receive written. instructions confirming this conversation and telling you to which bank the accounts should be transferTed.'

'But I don't understand why, Mr. Rosnovski. What have I done ... ?'

Abel hung up as his daughter walked into the offim 'That didn't sound very pleasant, Daddy.'

'It wasn't meant to be pleasant, but it's nothing to concern yourself with, darling,' said Abel, his tone changing immediately. 'Did you manage to find all the clothes you need for Europe?'

'Yes, thank you, Daddy, but I'm not absolutely sure what they're wearing in London and Paris. I can only hope that I've got it right. I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb.'

'You'll stick out all right, my darling, by being the most beautiful thing the British have seen in years. They'll know your clothes didn't come out of a nation book with your natural flair and sense of colour. Those young Europeans will be falling all over themselves to get alongside you, but I'll be there to stop them. Now let's go and have some lunch and discuss what we are going to do while we're in London!

Ten days later, after Florentyna had spent a long weekend with her mother - Abel never enquired after her - the two of them flew from New York's Idlewild Airport to London's Heathrow. The flight in a Boeing 377 took nearly fourteen hours, and although they had private berths, when they ar - rived at Claridges in Brook Street, the only thing they both wanted to do was have another long sleep.