Kane and Abel (Kane & Abel 1)

As the months passed by, he felt things were becoming quite routine again. Routine disappeared from his mind when Virginia, just out of Sweetbriar, announced she was going to marry a student from the University of Virginia Law School. The news shook William.

'She's not old enough,'he said.

'Virginia's twenty - two,' said Kate. 'She's not a child any longer, William. How do you feel about becoming a grandfather?' she added, regretting the sequence of her words immediately she had spoken them.

'What do you mean?' said William, horrified. 'Virginia isn't pregnant, is she?'

'Good gracious, no,' said Kate, and then she spoke more softly as if she had been found out. 'Richard and Florentyna, have had a baby.'

'How do you know?'

'Richard wrote to tell me the good news,' replied Kate. 'Hasn't the time come for you to forgive him, William?'

'Never,' said William and marched out of the room in anger.

Kate sighed wearily: he had not even asked if his grandchild was a boy or a girl.

Virginia's wedding took place in Trinity Church, Boston, on a beautiful spring afternoon in late March of the following year. Williain thoroughly approved of David Telford, the young lawyer with whom Virginia had chosen to spend the rest of her life.

Virginia had wanted Richard to be an usher and Kate had begged William to invite him to the wedding, but he had steadfastly refused. He had wanted to say yes, but he knew that Richard would never agree to coming without the Rosnovski girl. On the day of the wedding Richard sent a present and a telegram to his sister. William would not allow the telegram to be read at the reception afterwards.

Book Six

36

Abel was sitting alone in his office on the forty - second floor of the New York Baron waiting to see a fund raiser from the Kennedy campaign. The man was already twenty minutes late. Abel was tapping his fingers impatiently on his desk when his secretary came in.

'Mr. Vincent Rogan to see you, sir.'

Abel sprang out of his chair. 'Come in, Mr. Hogan,' he said, slapping the good - looking young man on the back. 'How are you?'

'I'm fine, Mr. Rosnovski. I'm sorry I'm a little late,' said the unmistakably Bostonian voice.

'I didn't notice,' said AbeL 'Would you care for a drink, Mr. Hogan?'

'No, thank you, Mr. Rosnovski. I try not to drink when I have to see so many people in one day.'

'Absolutely right. I hope you won't mind if I have one,' said Abel. 'I'm not planning on seeing many people today!

Hogan laughed like a man who knew he was in for a day of other people's jokes. Abel poured a whisky.

'Now, what can I do for you, Mr. Hogan?'

'Well, Mr. Rosnovski, we were hoping the party could once again count on your support!

'I've always been a Democrat, as you know, Mr. Hogan. I supported Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Adlai Stevenson, although I couldn't understand what Adlai was talking about half the time!

Both men laughed falsely.

'I also helped my old friend, Dick Daley, in Chicago and I've been backing young Ed Muskie - the son of a Polish immigrant, you know - since his campaign for governor of Maine back in'54.'

'You've been a loyal supporter of the party in the past, there's no denying that, Mr. Rosnovski,' said Vincent Hogan, in a tone that indicated that the statutory time for small talk had run out. 'We also know the Democrats, not least of all former Congressman Osborne, have done the odd favour for you in return. I don't think it's necessary for me to go into any details of that unpleasant little incident!

'T'hat's long since past,' said Abel, 'and well behind me.'

'I agree,' said Mr. Hogan, 'and although most self - made multi - millionaires couldn't face having their affairs looked into too closely, you will be the first to appreciate that we have to be especially careful. Tle candidate, as you will understand, cannot afford to take any personal risks so near the election. Nixon would love a scandal at this stage of the race!

'We understand each other clearly, Mr. Hogan. Now thaes out of the way, how much were you expecting from me for the election campaign?'

'I need every penny I can lay my hands on.' Hogan's words came across clipped and slow. 'Nixon is gathering a lot of support across the country, andiesgoing to be a very close thing getting our man into the White House!

'Well, I'll support Kennedy,' said Abel, 'if he supports me. ies as simple as that.'

'He's delighted to support you, Mr. Rosnovski. We all realise that you're now a pillar of the Polish community, and Senator Kennedy is personally aware of the brave stand you took on behalf of your countrymen who are still in slave labour camps behind the Iron Curtain, not to mention the service you gave in the war. I have been authorised to let you know that the candidate has already agreed to open your new hotel in Los Angeles during his campaign trip.'