6

Peter McDermott heard of the Dentistry Congress decision to continue with its convention almost as soon as the meeting ended. He supposed that for the hotel’s sake he should be pleased. Instead, he had a feeling of depression.

As Peter entered the managing director’s section of the executive suite, Christine looked up from her desk. She smiled warmly, reminding him how much he had wanted to talk with her last evening.

“Was it a nice party?”

“Everything was fine. I missed you, though. If you’re free, perhaps I could make up for it tonight.”

“Tonight I’m having dinner with Mr. Wells. If you work late, why not join us afterward?”

“If I can, I will. Is W.T. available?”

“You can go in. But he seems depressed this morning.” Indeed, the news, which Peter brought, seemed to make little impression on him.

The exchange reminded Christine of the stratagem she had thought of yesterday. She telephoned Max, head waiter of the main dining room.

“Max,” Christine said, “I’ve a friend, who likes dining-room service – an elderly gentleman named Mr. Wells. We’ll be in for dinner tonight. I want you to make sure that his bill is light, though not so small that he’ll notice. The difference you can put on my account.”

The head waiter chuckled. “Say! You are the kind of girl I’d like to know myself. Miss Francis, when we present his bill he’ll think he ate in the automat.”

She hung up, laughing, aware that Max would handle the situation with tact and good sense.

Peter McDermott read Ogilvie’s memo, slowly, for the second time.

It read:

Mr. P. McDermott

The undersigned begs to report I am taking four days leave commencing immediately. For personal urgent reasons.

W. Finegan, dep. chief house officer, is advised concerning robbery. Also can act with all other matters.

Yours truly,

T. L. Ogilvie

The memo said “personal urgent reasons.” But what kind of personal reason was involved?

Peter decided he would make an effort to learn where the chief house officer had gone and why.

“Flora, if you can,” Peter said, “I want you to find out where he is. Call the garage. I happened to be walking by the hotel last night. He drove out around one o’clock – in a Jaguar.”

The deputy chief house officer, Finegan, had no idea where Mr. Ogilvie had gone either. Yes, last night there had been continuous patrols through the hotel, but no suspicious activity was observed. Certainly, if Finegan heard from Mr. Ogilvie, Mr. McDermott would be informed at once.

Then Flora announced on the office intercom, “Miss Marsha Preyscott on line two.”

He picked up the telephone.

“Do you remember I promised you some New Orleans history? We could start this afternoon.”

After a slight hesitation he said, “All right. Let’s see how many centuries we can cover between two o’clock and four.”

7

It was a relief to Curtis O’Keefe to remember that this was his final day in New Orleans. He would leave for New York tonight and Italy tomorrow. The destination there, for himself and Dodo, was the Naples O’Keefe Hotel. Later, of course, he would return to New Orleans, to the O’Keefe St. Gregory.

As the telephone rang, he expected to hear the voice of Warren Trent. Instead, an operator announced that the call was long distance.

A moment later the nasal voice of Hank Lemnitzer came on the line.

“I found a deal for Dodo. Walt Curzon’s shooting a remake of You Can’t Take It With You. Yesterday I found out Walt needed a girl to play the old Ann Miller role. It’s a good supporting part.”

“I assume there’ll be a screen test. How do we know Curzon will agree to the casting?”

“Are you kidding? Don’t underrate your influence, Mr. O’Keefe. Dodo’s in. Only thing is, we have to move fast. They need her yesterday, Mr. O’Keefe. And, as you asked, Jenny LaMarsh flies to New York tonight, she’ll join you there tomorrow. We’ll switch Dodo’s Naples reservations to Jenny.”

O’Keefe could find no flaw in the plan. He wondered why he wanted to.

Lemnitzer said, “If you’re worried about telling Dodo, why don’t I do it?”

“Thank you. I’m quite capable of handling the matter personally.”

Dodo returned breathlessly, loaded with packages and followed by a grinning bellboy, similarly burdened. O’Keefe gave the bellboy a dollar and waited until he had gone.

“Did you miss me, Curtie?”

“Let’s sit down. I want to tell you about some changes in plan. The fact is, my dear, you’re being given a movie role.”

Dodo said slowly, “I guess it means… I have to go away.”

“Unfortunately, my dear, it does.”

“Soon?”

“I’m afraid – tomorrow morning. You’ll fly directly to Los Angeles. Hank Lemnitzer will meet you.”

“Curtie, it’s all right.” Dodo’s eyes were still upon him. Despite their innocence, he had an absurd notion they had penetrated to the truth.

“I’d hoped – about the movie role – you might be more pleased. It’s really a tremendous opportunity.”

“I guess…” There was the slightest catch in Dodo’s voice. “I guess you’ll go tonight. Before me.”

“No, I’ll cancel my flight and leave tomorrow morning. Tonight will be a special evening for us both.”

As Dodo looked up gratefully, the telephone rang.

“This is Christine Francis – Mr. Warren Trent’s assistant. Mr. Trent wondered if it would be convenient for him to come to see you now.”

“Yes,” he acknowledged. “I’ll see Mr. Trent. Tell him to come.”

8

Warren Trent hoped that for the hour or so, which remained of his proprietorship, he would be undisturbed. But Christine Francis came in quietly, as usual sensing his mood, and announced, to Warren Trent’s surprise, that Mr. Emile Dumaire was waiting outside.

A good deal of money from the Industrial Merchants Bank, of which Emile Dumaire was president, was tied up in the St. Gregory Hotel. It was also Industrial Merchants, which, months earlier, had refused an extension of credit as well as a larger loan for refinancing.

“I apologize, Warren, for the abrupt intrusion without an appointment.”

They shook hands. The hotel proprietor waved his visitor to a chair.

“First, permit me to say how sorry I was that it was not feasible to accede to your loan request. Unfortunately, the sum and terms were far beyond our resources or established policy.”

Warren Trent nodded. He had little liking for the banker, though he had never made the mistake of underrating him.

“I am very well aware of the terms of the offer for this hotel from the O’Keefe Corporation. But I am here to make a counter-offer. And it will be better than O’Keefe’s.”

There was ironic justice in the fact that Curtis O’Keefe who used espionage as a business tool, should be spied upon himself.

“Just how are the terms better?”

“Basically, the valuation, which my principals place upon this hotel, is identical with that of the O’Keefe Corporation. In other respects, however, there are several significant differences.”

Warren Trent was conscious of a mounting interest in what the banker had to say.

“First, my principals have no wish that you should sever your personal connection with the St. Gregory Hotel or divorce yourself from its financial structure. Second, it would be their intention to maintain the hotel’s independence and existing character. They would, however, insist on acquiring a majority of the outstanding common shares – a reasonable requirement in the circumstances – to provide effective management control. A further requirement would be your immediate resignation as president and managing director.”

“What would I become?”

The banker smiled. “My principals propose that immediately following your resignation you be appointed chairman of the board, initially for a two-year term.”

The hotel proprietor was silent.

“I am further instructed to inform you that my principals will match any offer of a personal nature concerning accommodation here.”

As the banker talked on, closely consulting his notes, Warren Trent had a sense of unreality. Who, among the city’s business leaders, was behind Emile Dumaire?

9

“Are you really telling me you’ve sold elsewhere?”

“You may also be interested to know, Mr. O’Keefe, that I have not sold entirely, but have retained a substantial interest in the hotel.”

O’Keefe’s face flushed with rage. It had been many years since anything he wished to buy had been denied him. Dodo reached out. Her hand touched O’Keefe’s sleeve, “Curtie!”

He wrenched the arm free. “Shut up!” He added addressing the hotel proprietor, “I’ll drive this hotel down, and out of business.”

Dodo’s eyes went appealingly to Warren Trent. Warren Trent felt his own self-control increase as O’Keefe’s diminished. “We may not see it happen, of course, because what you intend will take time.”

O’Keefe raged, “Get out!”

With a slight, courteous bow to Dodo, he went out.

“It’s only a hotel, Curtie. You have so many others,” Dodo said.

“I want this one!”

Dodo, frightened, had never known him in a mood so uncontrolled before.

“I’m surrounded by fools! You’re a fool! It’s why I’m getting rid of you. Replacing you with someone else.”

He regretted the words the instant they were out. Dodo’s eyes were misty.

“I guess I knew, Curtie. You didn’t have to tell me.”