Part 9 (2/2)
”John Riviere, my husband's half-brother. He lives in some suburb of Paris, I forget where, and Clifford was to bring him along to Monte.”
The s.h.i.+powner decided that he must find this man and discover if he knew anything. The words of Jimmy Martin flashed through his brain: ”I doubt if the police'll do much unless the relatives kick up a s.h.i.+ndy.”
Meanwhile, there was nothing to do but tell the truth, which was his usual resource when in an unforeseen difficulty.
”Don't know anything about him. If you give me his Paris address I'll dig him out.”
”We don't know his address.”
”Then I'll find it at the office. As soon as I get a line on him I'll wire you. Riviere? The name sounds French.”
”French-Canadian. He's a couple of years older than Clifford, I believe.... When are you coming yourself?”
”To-night's train or to-morrow. I'm not sure if I can get away to-night.”
”Do you play roulette?”
”No. Never been at the tables.”
”Then I must teach you,” said Olive gaily.
”Delighted!”
After the telephone conversation, Larssen went straight to No. 8, Rue Laffitte. He had wired the night before to London to have a secretary sent over--Sylvester, his usual confidential man, if the latter were back at business; if not, another subordinate he named. Catching the nine o'clock train from Charing Cross, the secretary would arrive in Paris about five in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Larssen, had to make his search for Riviere in person.
The business of a financier differs radically from a mercantile business on the point of staff. The main work of negotiation can only be carried out by the head of the firm himself, as a rule, and the routine work for subordinates is small, except when a public company flotation is being made. Matheson had found that his Paris office needed only a manager, Coulter, and a couple of clerks, one English and one French.
Coulter was a steady-going, reliable man of forty odd, extremely trustworthy and not too imaginative.
He knew Lars Larssen, of course, and received him deferentially.
”What can I have the pleasure of doing for you, sir?”
”I want the address of Mr John Riviere. Or rather, Mrs Matheson wants it.”
”Who is Mr John Riviere?”
This came as a fresh surprise to Lars Larssen, and made him doubly anxious to discover the man. Why all this mystery surrounding him?
”I understand from Mrs Matheson that Mr Riviere is her husband's half-brother. Lives somewhere around Paris.”
”Strange! I've never heard of him myself. I'll make enquiries if you'll wait a moment.”
Presently Coulter returned with the young English clerk of the office.
”It seems that Mr Riviere called here yesterday afternoon and enquired for Mr Matheson,” explained Coulter.
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