the restaurant. She glanced back and saw a young blonde, clad more as though she was going to bed than attending a dinner, had trapped Black Jack in a conversation. Paula hurried back to her table. No one except Newman saw her skilfully scoop up his name card, concealing it in her hand. He leaned towards her.
'Something up?' he asked quietly.
Amid the clinking of glasses and the loud babble of voices as inhibitions melted no one could hear them. She bent close to his ear.
'Black Jack told me he'd been paid ten thousand to rough Tweed up savagely. I don't think he recognizes Tweed. I'm going to point you out.'
'Do that. I'll handle the situation.'
Tweed, she had seen earlier, was seated at the top table next to Arbogast. He was drinking coffee when she stooped close to him, whispering.
'When you leave here it's vital you have Newman by your side. A matter of safety.'
Arbogast, who had been talking to a beautiful woman on his left, turned in his seat. He reached across Tweed, holding out his paw to Paula, who took it. He squeezed her warmly, smiling as he spoke to her. 'If you ever get tired of spending time with this modern Einstein, give me a call, then come over so we can chat. I meet so few attractive ladies who have a powerful intellect.'
'I might take you up on that.' She smiled again and left, then slipped back.
The Vice-President had leaned over the table. His cold eyes were fixed on Tweed as he spoke. Everyone else listened to what the great man was going to say.
'You are Tweed, I understand,' Straub rumbled. 'So what is your role in life?'
'If you know my name . . .' Tweed paused, leaning forward. His voice was harsh. '. . . then obviously you know my role in life. So what is the point in asking the question?'
His voice was loud, almost ferocious. Paula was startled - she had rarely heard him speak in this aggressive man ner. For a fleeting second she saw a vicious expression flash across the Vice-President's face, then the politician took over.
'Ladies and gentlemen, we have a lion present, one with teeth. Well, I've met such people all my life and I've yet to encounter one who disturbs me.' He raised his glass. 'I wish to propose another toast to the beautiful Sophie on her thirtieth birthday. Bless you, my dear . . .'
Paula returned to her table, this time occupying the empty seat Marienetta had earlier offered her. Roman's niece had a soft voice so she could chat to Paula without anyone hearing what she was saying.
'Your boss scored a bull's-eye there. I've seen Straub a lot on television and normally nothing throws him.'
'He asked for it.'
'He certainly did. Oh my, Sophie is going to get up and make a speech. And she's been drinking heavily. Keep your fingers crossed. She came back from the States a few days ago and I think she's still jet-lagged - on top of the drink.'
'Do you also visit America?'
'Only now and again. Sophie flies over far more. We've got a company over there. Here we go . . .'
Sophie was standing up close to a large tree creeper planted in a huge green tub. She waved her half-full glass back and forth, as though anointing her audience. A hush fell on the room. Sophie began speaking.
'I want to thank you all ... I want to thank you. I want to thank you . . .'
'Needle's got stuck,' Marienetta whispered.
'To thank you for the most wonderful birthday party I'm ever going to ecksp . . . ecks . . .'
'Experience,' whispered Tweed, leaning across the table.
'. . . ever going to experience.' She raised her glass. 'Three cheers for Tweed. And above all I'm so honoured to have the Vice-President, the next President of the United States of America, as the most honoured guest I could hope for. I'll be opening my presents later but thank you all for being so generous. Bless you all.'
As she sagged back in her chair thunderous applause broke out, continued for two minutes. Marienetta leaned close to Paula, so close she could just smell very expensive perfume.
'Tweed saved her, got
'Something up?' he asked quietly.
Amid the clinking of glasses and the loud babble of voices as inhibitions melted no one could hear them. She bent close to his ear.
'Black Jack told me he'd been paid ten thousand to rough Tweed up savagely. I don't think he recognizes Tweed. I'm going to point you out.'
'Do that. I'll handle the situation.'
Tweed, she had seen earlier, was seated at the top table next to Arbogast. He was drinking coffee when she stooped close to him, whispering.
'When you leave here it's vital you have Newman by your side. A matter of safety.'
Arbogast, who had been talking to a beautiful woman on his left, turned in his seat. He reached across Tweed, holding out his paw to Paula, who took it. He squeezed her warmly, smiling as he spoke to her. 'If you ever get tired of spending time with this modern Einstein, give me a call, then come over so we can chat. I meet so few attractive ladies who have a powerful intellect.'
'I might take you up on that.' She smiled again and left, then slipped back.
The Vice-President had leaned over the table. His cold eyes were fixed on Tweed as he spoke. Everyone else listened to what the great man was going to say.
'You are Tweed, I understand,' Straub rumbled. 'So what is your role in life?'
'If you know my name . . .' Tweed paused, leaning forward. His voice was harsh. '. . . then obviously you know my role in life. So what is the point in asking the question?'
His voice was loud, almost ferocious. Paula was startled - she had rarely heard him speak in this aggressive man ner. For a fleeting second she saw a vicious expression flash across the Vice-President's face, then the politician took over.
'Ladies and gentlemen, we have a lion present, one with teeth. Well, I've met such people all my life and I've yet to encounter one who disturbs me.' He raised his glass. 'I wish to propose another toast to the beautiful Sophie on her thirtieth birthday. Bless you, my dear . . .'
Paula returned to her table, this time occupying the empty seat Marienetta had earlier offered her. Roman's niece had a soft voice so she could chat to Paula without anyone hearing what she was saying.
'Your boss scored a bull's-eye there. I've seen Straub a lot on television and normally nothing throws him.'
'He asked for it.'
'He certainly did. Oh my, Sophie is going to get up and make a speech. And she's been drinking heavily. Keep your fingers crossed. She came back from the States a few days ago and I think she's still jet-lagged - on top of the drink.'
'Do you also visit America?'
'Only now and again. Sophie flies over far more. We've got a company over there. Here we go . . .'
Sophie was standing up close to a large tree creeper planted in a huge green tub. She waved her half-full glass back and forth, as though anointing her audience. A hush fell on the room. Sophie began speaking.
'I want to thank you all ... I want to thank you. I want to thank you . . .'
'Needle's got stuck,' Marienetta whispered.
'To thank you for the most wonderful birthday party I'm ever going to ecksp . . . ecks . . .'
'Experience,' whispered Tweed, leaning across the table.
'. . . ever going to experience.' She raised her glass. 'Three cheers for Tweed. And above all I'm so honoured to have the Vice-President, the next President of the United States of America, as the most honoured guest I could hope for. I'll be opening my presents later but thank you all for being so generous. Bless you all.'
As she sagged back in her chair thunderous applause broke out, continued for two minutes. Marienetta leaned close to Paula, so close she could just smell very expensive perfume.
'Tweed saved her, got
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