The Fourth Estate

“But he’s systematically bringing my company to its knees,” said Hahn. “And I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it, or how to stop him.”

“Don’t get so upset, my friend. I’ve been working on your behalf for some time now, and I may just have come up with a solution.”

Hahn forced a smile, but didn’t look convinced.

“How would you feel,” continued Armstrong, “if I were to arrange for Captain Sackville to be posted back to America by the end of the month?”

“That would solve all my problems,” said Hahn, with a deep sigh. But the look of doubt remained. “If only he could be sent home…”

“By the end of the month,” Armstrong repeated. “Mind you, Julius, it’s going to take a lot of arm-twisting at the very highest levels, not to mention…”

“Anything. I’ll do anything. Just tell me what you want.”

Armstrong removed the contract from his inside pocket and pushed it across the desk. “You sign this, Julius, and I’ll see that Sackville is sent back to the States.”

Hahn read the four-page document, first quickly and then more slowly, before placing it on the desk in front of him. He looked up and said quietly, “Let me understand the consequences of this agreement, should I sign it.” He paused again and picked up the contract again. “You would receive the foreign distribution rights for all my publications.”

“Yes,” said Armstrong quietly.

“I take it by that you mean for Britain.” He hesitated. “And the Commonwealth.”

“No,

Julius. The rest of the world.”

Hahn checked the contract once again. When he came to the relevant clause, he nodded gravely.

“And in return I would receive 50 percent of the profits.”

“Yes,” said Armstrong. “After all, you did tell me, Julius, that you would be looking for a British company to represent you once your present contract had come to an end.”

“True, but at the time I didn’t realize you were in publishing.”

“I have been all my life,” said Armstrong. “And once I’ve been demobbed, I shall be returning to England to carry on running the family business.”

Hahn looked bemused. “And in exchange for these rights,” he said, “I would become the sole proprietor of Der Telegraf.” He paused again. “I had no idea that you owned the paper.”

“Neither does Arno, so I must ask you to keep that piece of information in the strictest confidence. I had to pay well above the market price for his shares.”

Hahn nodded, then frowned. “But if I were to sign this document, you could become a millionaire.”

“And if you don’t,” said Armstrong, “you could be bankrupt by the end of the month.”

Both men stared at each other.

“You have evidently given my problem considerable thought, Captain Armstrong,” said Hahn eventually.

“Only with your best interests in mind,” said Armstrong.

Hahn didn’t comment, so Armstrong continued, “Allow me to prove my good will, Julius. I would not wish you to sign the document if Captain Sackville is still in this country on the first day of next month. If he has been replaced by then, I will expect you to put your signature to it on the same day. For the moment, Julius, a handshake will be good enough for me.”

Hahn remained silent for a few more seconds. “I can’t argue with that,” he said eventually. “If that man has left the country by the end of the month, I will sign the contract in your favor.”

The two men stood up and shook hands solemnly.

“I’d better be on my way,” said Armstrong. “There are still quite a number of people I’ll have to get in line, and a lot of paperwork to be dealt with if I’m to make sure Sackville is sent back to America in three weeks’ time.”

Hahn just nodded.