A Matter of Honor

“Oh, yes,” said the man. “There’s an urgent message for you,” he said, reading from a pad in front of him. “please call M. Roget at Roget et Cie on Geneva 271279.” He ripped off the piece of paper and handed it over. “The phones are over there in the far corner behind the KLM desk, and you’ll need twenty centimes.”

“Thank you,” said Adam, studying the message, but it gave no clue as to why M. Roget should need to speak to him.

“I wonder what he can want,” said Heidi. “It’s a bit late to ask for the icon back.”

“Well, there’s only one way I’m going to find out,” said Adam, passing over the bag to her. “Hang on to that, and I’ll be back in a moment.”

“I’ll try and pick up my magazine at the same time, if I can find a stand on this floor,” said Heidi as she gripped the brightly colored bag that contained the chocolates.

“Right,” said Adam. “Meet you back here in a couple of minutes.”

“Roget et Cie. Est-ce que je puis vous aider?”

“I am returning Mr. Roget’s call,” said Adam, making no attempt to answer in French.

“Yes, sir. Whom shall I say is calling?” asked the telephonist, immediately switching to English.

“Adam Scott.”

“I’ll find out if he’s available, sir.”

Adam swung round to see if Heidi had returned to the BEA counter, but as there was no sign of her he assumed she must still be looking for a newspaper. Then he noticed an old man shuffling across the hall. He could have sworn he had seen him somewhere before.

“

Mr. Scott?” Adam leaned back into the box.

“Yes, M. Roget, I am returning your call.”

“Returning my call?” said the banker, sounding puzzled. “I don’t understand.”

“There was a message left at the BEA counter asking me to phone you. Urgent.”

“There must be some mistake, I didn’t leave any message. But now that you have rung, it might interest you to know that just as you were leaving Mr. Emmanuel Rosenbaum visited us.”

“Emmanuel Rosenbaum?” said Adam, “but I assumed he was …”

“Could you assist me, please, young lady?” Heidi looked up at the old man who had addressed her in English, but with such a strong mid-European accent. She wondered why he had taken for granted that she spoke English but decided it must be the only language he felt confident conversing in.

“I am trying to find a taxi and I am already late, but I fear my eyesight is not what it used to be.”

Heidi replaced the copy of Der Spiegel back on the shelf and said, “They’re just through the double doors in the center. Let me show you.”

“How kind,” he said. “But I do hope I am not putting you to too much trouble.”

“Not at all,” said Heidi, taking the old man by the arm and guiding him back toward the door marked “Taxi et Autòbus.”

“Are you sure it was Rosenbaum?” said Adam anxiously.

“I’m certain,” replied the banker.

“And he seemed happy about me keeping the icon?”

“Oh, yes. That was not the problem. His only concern was to return your 120 francs. I think he may try and get in touch with you.”

“BEA announce the departure of their flight BE 171 to London Heathrow from gate number nine.”

“I must leave,” said Adam. “My plane takes off in a few minutes.”