The List of Adrian Messenger

Get along, Miss Sixpence.

Damn good hunt.

By the way, congratulations, sir,

getting the brush.

First brush grandfather's given

away all season. l envy you.

l like to see a thruster

in the field.

Ginger's up a whole hunt.

You earned it.

Thanks.

As l recall, you were in at

the kill when l rode up.

A master's job to

stay with his hounds.

The day l can't,

I'll let him there take over.

l can't grandfather,

before my voice changes.

Hounds won't obey.

-Are you really off next week, Adrian?

-I'm afraid so.

l saw that in the Times this morning.

Didn't know you were a celebrity.

Adrian doesn't write his books

for you and you only, Derek.

-Sorry, mother.

-Damn silly time to be going away.

Three good months

of hunting left.

l get to find what father considers

a good time to go away.

Everything one wants, right here.

Where are you off to?

-America, sir.

-What on earth for?

You know what they do out there?

Follow a drag, actually.

-What's a drag?

-An abomination.

-What's an abomination?

-Something damnable like a drag.

Blighters douse some rags with

some stink, drag it on the ground.

Poor damned hounds follow it!

Ruins their noses!

-Call that hunting!

-But what's the object?

-Sham!

-'Bomination.

l had a brother went to America once,

Canada actually.

Before the first German War.

He should be dead by now.

Almost everyone is.

-Dinner at 8.

-Sherry at 7.30.

Extraordinary how alike they are.

And like Ian.

To me, he's always

standing between them.

My, l am stiff!

My first hunt of the season.

l can do with a hot tub.

-Anthony.

-Yes?

-Give me five minutes, will you?

-Of course l will.

lf you don't mind my asking,

you're not still Ml6 are you?

No. thoroughly retired.

Pension and all that.

The Minister may ask me to come in

now and again for trivial assignments.

-That won't interfere with this.

-Well, what is this?

Just the most tremendous favor

you could do me if you would.

So that's why l was invited

down here for the weekend.

My dear fellow, you know how

devoted the family is to you.

Go on, old man.

Well, it's rather difficult really.

It involves your doing

something without knowing why. So,...

don't hesitate to say no.

Ten names.

Ten probable occupations.

Ten addresses.

Scattered all over the kingdom.

So, what do l do?

Ask about them.

-What do you mean, ''ask about them''?

-Just that.

l don't want their

families bothered by policemen.

Ill put it this way.

Are those 10 men still

living at those addresses?

l think that should do it.

Suppose they've moved,

do you want to know where?

lf you like.

Well, Ill do this, of course,

you knew that in advance.

l flatter myself. l know you well

enough, there must be good reason.

-Am l right?

-Absolutely.

Let me give you a suggestion.

I've been watching you lately.

And underneath that admirably

calm exterior of yours, you're...

wound up.

Why don't you tell me about it?

No.

No, it's...

so preposterous, l can't believe

my suspicions make any sense.

Im counting on you to

prove that they don't.

When do you need this information?

It'll be difficult to collect.

Especially the way you want it.

Well, l...

Ill be back in England in about

a fortnight, is that too soon?

Should be about right.

It's no good theorizing, Anthony.

You'll only come to some

wildly improbable conclusions.

Like, what you're thinking now.

That Ive uncovered some fascist or

anarchist or communist conspiracy.

Believe me,

there's nary a conspiracy.

lf Im right about this,

it's a far older sin than politics.

-Good evening, sir.

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