“Destined to remain the Foreign Office’s best kept secret,” she added.
He turned back slowly to face her.
“Alas …” he began, but just at that moment the auctioneer’s hammer came down with a thud. They both looked up.
“Sold to the gentleman at the front for fourteen thousand pounds.”
“Not a bad price,” said Adam, smiling.
“A bargain in my opinion,” said Robin.
Adam turned back to her. “After all,” he said in a whisper, “imagine what the forty-ninth state would have fetched if it had come up for auction.”
ALSO BY JEFFREY ARCHER
NOVELS
A Prisoner of Birth
False Impression
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Shall We Tell the President?
Kane & Abel
First Among Equals
The Prodigal Daughter
As the Crow Flies
Honor Among Thieves
The Fourth Estate
The Eleventh Commandment
Sons of Fortune
SHORT STORIES
Cat O’ Nine Tales
A Quiver Full of Arrows
A Twist in the Tale
Twelve Red Herrings
To Cut a Long Story Short
The Collected Short Stories
PLAYS
Beyond Reasonable Doubt