To Catch a King by Jack Higgins

Author:Jack Higgins
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
ISBN: 9781453200193
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1979-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

They sat around a small white-painted iron table while one of the servants served coffee. Von Stohrer waved him away. “So, now we can get down to business.”

He was not just a career diplomat, but a conventional Nazi with unquestioning allegiance to the Fuhrer. His close personal contacts with the Spanish government at every level were of tremendous importance, especially at that time when negotiations between Spain and Germany about the further conduct of the war were at a most delicate stage.

“So—what is the present problem?” Schellenberg asked.

“Perhaps, Minister, you would care to say something?” Von Stohrer said.

Serrano Suner nodded. “Very well. So far, we have used as an emissary to the Duke, the Marques de Estella, Primo de Rivera, who has been a friend of the Duke for a long time. I think I should stress at this stage, that the Marques is,” here he hesitated, “how shall I describe it? A man of finest honor?”

“I take your point,” Schellenberg said dryly.

“To continue. The Marques has no idea of our mutual interest. He believes himself purely to be acting for the Spanish government in the matter and takes his instructions from me on behalf of our government.”

“Are you implying that he only has the welfare of the Duke at heart?”

“Exactly. They are old friends. The Duke has had to surrender his passport to the British Embassy in Lisbon. It is by now common knowledge that he doesn’t relish his appointment as Governor of the Bahamas. A posting deliberately designed to get him as far away as possible. It would be understandable if he felt insulted at its lack of importance. It is more than probable that he is also under close surveillance by British Intelligence.”

“So, what has De Rivera suggested to him?”

“That he move to Spain where the Spanish government would gladly grant him asylum, there to await events.”

“And does De Rivera think the British would sit idly by while the Duke and Duchess pack their bags and move out?”

“No. He went to Lisbon again yesterday, to visit the Duke at Estoril. His intention is to arrange a day in the country at some convenient spot near the border. A hunting party with old friends. An obvious opportunity for the Duke and Duchess to step across before the British, or anyone else, knows what is happening.”

“And if they choose not to?”

“But that, my dear Schellenberg, is where you come in,” Von Stohrer said.

Schellenberg nodded. “I see. Abduction. And De Rivera is aware of this possibility?”

“No,” Serrano Suner admitted. “As I’ve indicated, the Marques is acting purely out of concern for what he believes to be the best interests of an old friend. I should also point out that there is a rumor, current in Spanish society circles at the moment, that it is the plan of the British Secret Service, once the Duke is in the Bahamas, to do away with him as soon as may be. Naturally, the Marques will convey this information to the Duke.”

Schellenberg laughed out loud.

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