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.He glanced up from behind his glasses and she was staring into space.He still kept quiet.`All right,' she said.'It means breaking a confidence with a client for the first time, but I'm assuming you wouldn't let me do that unless it was something very serious.I'm placing all my integrity in your hands.For me,' she continued on a lighter note, 'that's equivalent to entrusting you with my one-time virginity.'`That's safe enough with me,' he said drily.`Bob Newman, foreign correspondent.He asked me only this week to trace a Manfred Seidler.I may have got lucky - but I'm not sure.I have an address—and a phone number—for a Manfred.No guarantees issued that he's Seidler, but he does sound like him.'`Address, phone number.'Tweed had his small notebook on his lap, his old-fashioned fountain pen in his hand.She gave him both items of information out of her head.He knew that both would be correct.Like himself she only had to see a face once, hear a name, read an address or phone number, and it was registered on her brain for ever.`What I've given you,' she went on, 'are the details of a girl called Erika Stahel.She may be Seidler's girl friend.Incidentally, Stahel is spelt.'`It sounds as though he may be holed up in Basle,' Tweed suggested.'If it is Seidler.'`I've no idea.I have an idea I'm going to regret giving you this information.'`You expect to see this foreign correspondent, Newman, again soon?'`Why?' she asked sharply.`Just that I wondered whether you had any idea what story he is working on.'`You're going too far!' The annoyance showed in her tone and she didn't care.She stood up from the sofa arm, walked across to a chair and sat facing him, crossing her legs again.He gazed into her startling blue eyes and thought how many men would be clay in her slim hands, clay to mould into any shape she wished.She spoke angrily.`Again you ask me to betray a confidence.Are you really working for the Ministry of Defence in London? I keep your secrets.If I give away other people's, you should cease trusting me!'`I spend most of my life in a thoroughly boring way — reading files.'`Files on people I have helped you track across Europe.'`Files on people who are dangerous to the West.Switzerland is now part of the West in a way it never has been before.No longer is neutrality enough.'He took off his glasses and started polishing them on his pocket handkerchief.Blanche reacted instantly, tossing her mane of hair as she clicked her fingers.He paused, holding the glasses in his lap.`You're up to something!' she told him.'I always can tell when you're plotting some devious ploy.You take off those glasses and start cleaning them!'He blinked, thrown off balance for a moment.She was getting to know him too well.He put away the handkerchief and looped the glasses behind his ears, sighing deeply.`Is Newman interested in the Berne Clinic at Thun?' he asked quietly.`Supposing he was?' she challenged him.`I might be able to help him.' He reached inside his pocket, brought out Mason's notebook and handed it to her.'In there is information he might find invaluable.You type, of course? I suggest you type out every word inside that notebook.He must not see the notebook itself.Give him your typed report without revealing your source.Make up some plausible story — you are perfectly capable of doing that, I know.I'll collect the notebook when next I see you.'`Tweed, what exactly are you up to? I need to know before I agree.I like Newman.'The data from that notebook will keep him running.'`Oh, I see.' She ran a hand through her hair.'You're using him.You use people, don't you?'`Yes.' He thought it best not to hesitate.'Isn't it always the way,' he commented sadly.'We use people.We all use each other.'Reaching inside his breast pocket he brought out an envelope containing Swiss banknotes.He was careful to hand it to her with formal courtesy.She took it and dropped it on the floor beside her chair, a sign that she was still annoyed.`I expect it's too much for what I've done,' she remarked.Her mood changed as the blue eyes watched him.Uncrossing her legs, she pressed her knees together, clasped her hands so the fingers pointed at him and leaned forward.'What is it? Something is worrying you.'`Blanche, I want you to take great care during the next week or two.There have been two killings, probably three.What I am going to say is in the greatest confidence
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