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eir own； faceless and empty people who are consistently bypassed in state…to…state negotiations。 Even their second chauffeurs； who are customarily trained espionage agents； wield vastly more power than the ambassadors themselves。
〃Alternatively； we can make a direct approach to the governments concerned。 But for that we would have to have proof。 Your word doesn't e into question； but it's not enough。 We must be able to adduce positive proof of； shall we say； nefarious intent。〃
Lord Worth replied immediately。 〃Such proof I can adduce and can give you the outline now。 I am extremely reluctant to name names because it will mean the end of a professional career of a friend of mine。 But if I have to； that I will do。 Whether I release those names to you or to the public will depend entirely upon the department's reaction。 If I can't receive a promise of action after I have given you this outline； then I have ？ no recourse other than to approach the public。 This is not blackmail。 Tin in a corner and the only solution is to fight my way out of it。 If you will； as I hope you will； give me a favorable reaction； I shall； of course； give you a list of names； which； I would hope； will not be published by your department。 Secrecy； in other words。 Not； of course； that this will prevent you from letting…loose the FBI the moment I board my helicopter out there。〃
〃The great warm heart of the American public versus the inpetent bumbling of the State Department。〃 Benton smiled。 〃One begins to understand why you are a millionaire…I do apologize； billionaire。〃
〃Earlier this week a highly secret meeting was held in a lakeside resort out west。 Ten people； all of them very senior oilmen； attended this meeting。 Four were Americans； representing many of the major oil panies in the States。 A fifth was from Honduras。 A sixth was from Venezuela； a seventh from Nigeria。 Numbers eight and nine were oil sheikhs from the Gulf。 The last was from the Soviet Union。 As he was the only one there who had no interest whatsoever hi the flow of oil into the United States； one can only presume that he was there to stir up as much trouble as possible。〃
Lord Worth looked around at the five people in the room。 That he had their collective ear was beyond dispute。 Satisfied； he continued。
〃The meeting had one purpose and one only in mind。 To stop me and to stop me at all costs。 More precisely； they wanted to stop the flow of oil from the Seawitch…that is the name of my oil rig…because I was considerably undercutting them in price and thereby raising all sorts of fiscal problems。 If there are any rules or ethics in the oil business I have as yet to detect any。 I believe your congressional investigative mittees agree one hundred per cent with me on that。 Incidentally； North Hudson…that's the official name of my pany…has never been investigated。
〃The only permanent way to stop the flow of oil is to destroy the Seawitch。 Halfway through the meeting they called in a professional trouble…shooter； a man whom I know well； and a highly dangerous man at that。 For reasons I won't explain until I get some sort of guarantee of help； he has a deep and bitter grudge against me。 He also happens…just coincidentally； of course…to be one of the world's top experts； if not the very top； on the use of high explosives。
〃After the meeting this troubleshooter called aside the Venezuelan and Soviet delegates and asked for naval cooperation。 This he was guaranteed。'* Lord Worth looked at the pany with a singular lack of enthusiasm。 〃Now perhaps you people will believe me。
〃I would add that this man so hates me that he would probably do the job for nothing。 However； he has asked for…and got…a fee of a million dollars。 He also asked for…and got… ten million dollars' 'operating expenses。' What does ten million dollars mean to you…except the unlimited use of violence？〃
〃Preposterous！ Incredible！〃 The Secretary shook his head。 〃It has； of course； to be true。 You are singularly well…informed； Lord Worth。 You would appear to have an intelligence service to rival our own。〃
〃Better。 I pay them more。 This oil business is a jungle and it's a case of survival of the most devious。〃
〃Industrial espionage？〃
〃Most certainly not。〃 It was just possible that Lord Worth actually believed this。
〃This friend who may be ing to the end of his…〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Give me all the details； including a list of the names。 Put a cross against the name of your friend。 I shall see to it that he is not implicated and that only I will see that list。〃
〃You are very considerate； Mr。 Secretary。〃
〃In return I shall consult with Defense and the Pentagon。〃 He paused。 〃Even that will not be necessary。 In return I can personally guarantee you a sufficiency of air and sea cover against any normal or even considerable hazard。〃
Lord Worth didn't doubt him。 Benton had the reputation of being a man of unshakable integrity。 More important； he had the justly deserved reputation of being the President's indispensable right…hand man。 Benton delivered。 Lord Worth decided against showing too much relief。
〃I cannot tell you how deeply grateful I am。〃 He looked at the stenographer and then at Howell。 〃If I could borrow this lady's services…〃
〃Of course。〃 The stenographer turned a fresh page in her notebook and waited expectantly。
Lord Worth said： 〃The place…Lake Tahoe； California。 The address…〃
The telephone jangled。 The stenographer gave Lord Worth an 〃excuse me〃 smile and picked up the handset。 Howell said to the Secretary： 〃Dammit； I gave the strictest instructions…〃
〃It's for Lord Worth。〃 She was looking at Benton。 〃A Mr。 Mitchell from Florida。 Extremely urgent。〃 The Secretary nodded and the stenographer rose and handed the phone to Lord Worth。
〃Michael？ How did you know I was here 。 。 。 Yes； I'm listening。〃
He listened without interruption。 As he did so； to the considerable consternation of those watching him； the color drained from his tanned cheeks and left them an unhealthy sallow color。 It was Benton himself who rose； poured out a brandy and brought it across to Lord Worth； who took it blindly and drained the not inconsiderable contents at a gulp。 Benton took the glass from him and went for a refill。 When he came back Lord Worth took the drink but left it untouched。 Instead he handed the instrument to Benton and held his left hand over Ms now screwed…shut eyes。
Benton spoke into the phone。 〃State Department。 Who's speaking？〃
Mitchell's voice was faint but clear。 〃Michael Mitchell； from Lord Worth's home。 Is that…is that Dr。 Benton？〃
〃Yes。 Lord Worth seems to have received a severe shock。〃
〃Yes； sir。 His two daughters have been kidnaped。〃
〃Good God above！〃 Benton's habitual imperturbability had received a severe dent。 No one had even seen him register shock before。 Perhaps it was the bluntness of the announcement。 〃Are you sure？〃
〃I wish to hell I wasn't； sir。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃We…my partner John Roomer and I…are private investigators。 We are not here in an investigative capacity。 We are here because we are neighbors and friends of Lord Worth and his daughters。〃
〃Called the police？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What's been done？〃
〃We have arranged for the blocking of all air and sea escape routes。〃
〃You have descriptions？〃
〃Poor。 Five men； heavily armed； wearing stocking masks。〃
〃What's your opinion of the local law？〃
〃Low。〃
〃I'll call in the FBI。〃
〃Yes； sir。 But as the criminals haven't been traced； there's no evidence that they've crossed the state line。〃
〃Hell with state lines and regulations。 If I say they're called in； that's it。 Hold on。 I think Lord Worth would like another word。〃 Lord Worth took the receiver。 Some color had returned to his cheeks。
〃I'm leaving now。 Less than three hours； I should say。 I'll radio from the Boeing half an hour out。 Meet me at the airport。〃
〃Yes； sir。 mander Larsen would like to know…〃
〃Tell him。〃 Lord Worth replaced the phone； took another sip of his brandy。 〃There's no fool like an old fool； and only a blind fool would have overlooked so obvious a move。 This is war； even if undeclared war； and in war no holds are barred。 To think that it should e to this before you had incontrovertible proof that I am indeed under siege。 Unforgivable。 To have left my daughters unguarded was wholly unforgivable。 Why didn't I have the sense to leave Mitchell and Roomer on guard？〃 He looked at his now…empty glass and the stenographer took it away。
Benton was faintly skeptical。 〃But against five armed men？〃
Lord Worth looked at him morosely。 〃I had forgotten that you don't know those men。 Mitchell； for example； could have taken care of them all by himself。 He's lethal。〃
〃So they're your friends； and you respect them。 Don't take offense； Lord Worth； but is there any way that they could be implicated in this？〃
〃You must be out of your mind。〃 Lord Worth； still morose； sipped his third brandy。 〃Sorry； I'm not myself。 Sure； they'd like to kidnap my daughters； almost as much as my daughters would like to be kidnaped by them。〃
〃That the way it is？〃 Benton seemed mildly astonished。 In his experience； billionaires' daughters did not normally associate with the likes of private investigators。
〃That's the way。 And hi answer to your next two questions： yes； I approve and no； they don't give a damn about my money。〃 He shook his head wonderingly。 〃It is extremely odd。 And I shall forecast this； Mr。 Secretary。 When Marina and Melinda are brought back to me it won't be through the good offices of either the local police or your precious FBI。 Mitchell and Roomer will bring them back。 One does not wish to sound overly dramatic； but they would； quite literally； give their lives for my daughters。〃
〃And； as a corollary； they would cut down anyone who got in their way？〃
For the first time since the phone call Lord Worth smiled； albeit faintly。 〃I'll take the fifth amendment on that one。〃
〃I must meet those paragons sometime。〃
〃Just as long as it's not over the wrong end of Mitchell's gun。〃 He rose； leaving his drink unfinished； and looked round the room。 〃I must go。 Thank you all for your kindness and consideration； not to say forbearance。〃 He left with the Secretary by his side。
When the door closed behind him General Zweicker rose and poured himself a brandy。 〃Well。 What may be the kidnaping of the century pales into insignificance pared to the likelihood of the Russkies starting to throw things at us。〃 He took some brandy。 〃Don't tell me I'm the only person who can see the hellish witches' brew Lord Worth is stirring up for us？〃
It was clear that all three listening to him had a very sharp view of the cauldron。 Howell said： 〃Let's give Lord Worth his due。 He could even be right when he says he's glad he's got a British passport。 The stirrers…up are our own patriots； the holier…than…thou major American oil panies； who are willing to crucify Lord Worth and put their country at jeopardy because of their blind stupidity。〃
〃I don't care who's responsible。〃 The stenographer's voice was plaintive。 〃Does anyone know where I can get a bomb shelter cheap？〃
Benton led Worth down one flight of stairs and out onto the sunlit lawn； where the helicopter was waiting。
Benton said： 〃Ever tried to find words to tell someone how damnably sorry you feel？〃
〃I know from experience。 Don't try。 。But thanks。〃
〃I could have our personal physician acpany you down to Florida。〃
〃Thanks again。 But I'm fine now。〃
〃And you haven't had lunch？〃 Benton； clearly； was finding conversational gambits heavy going。
〃As I don't much care for plastic lunches from plastic trays； I have an excellent French chef aboard my plane。〃 Again a faint smile。 〃And two stewardesses； chosen solely for their good looks。 I shall not want。 〃
They reached the steps of the helicopter。 Benton said： 〃You've had neither the time nor opportunity to give me that list of names。 For the moment that's of no consequence。 I just want you to know that my guarantee of protection remains in force。〃
Lord Worth shook his hand silently and climbed the steps。
By this time Conde； aboard the Roomer； had arrived at the S&awitch； and the big derrick crane aboard the platform was unloading the heavy weaponry and mines from the Louisiana arsenal It was a slow and difficult tas