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k. St. Christopher plaque

l. Invitation to Cabaret Club

m. C.C.O. pass

n. Admiralty ID card

o. Key ring with keys (3) to flat

p.£5 note (#227C45827)

q.£1 notes (#X34D527008, #W21D029293, #X66D443119)

r. 1 half-crown, 2 shillings, 2 sixpences

* * *

“And,” Montagu said, looking up, “as he will have everything of value in the secure briefcase—which, of course, will be attached bodily to him by way of the cable and cuffs—it would be logical to include some cash.”

There was an awkward silence, then Fleming said lightly, “You’re the movie star, Niven. Out with it!”

Niven glared at him, then said, “Very well. But as I am an unemployed actor, I expect to be reimbursed.”

He dug into his pant pocket and came out with some British currency: paper bills folded inside a monogrammed silver money clip and an assortment of coins.

“As he will be traveling on the government’s shilling,” Niven said reasonably, removing the clip from the notes, “he won’t have need for a great deal of cash.”

He peeled off three bills and handed them to Montagu with the coins. Then he returned the clip on the folded bills that remained in his hand and put that back in his pant pocket.

Montagu took the money to the sheet, and wrote at the bottom:

“What else can we add?” Montagu then said. “Anything?”

Stevens felt compelled to look in his wallet, and removed it from the inside pocket of his coat.

“All I have are these four tickets to the Prince of Wales Theatre,” he said, holding them fanned out.

“For which date?” Montagu asked.

“April fifteenth.”

Montagu thought that over.

“That would work,” he said. “Martin would still be in London and could very well have taken Pam.”

As Stevens considered that possibility, it was clear by his expression that he was not too keen on contributing what were perfectly good, not to mention rather expensive, tickets.

“What the hell,” Stevens said finally, and, as he handed the tickets to Montagu, added no

bly: “Such are one’s sacrifices for a higher cause.”

Montagu looked closely at the tickets and saw that they were numbered seats: AA22, AA23, AA24, AA25.

He took the tickets for seats 23 and 24 and tore them in half. He put the stubs he tore off in the briefcase and returned the rest to Stevens.

Everyone had a curious look.

“I suspect if you were to take all that to the theater manager and, with your creative mind, convince him that the tickets were torn in error, the manager would honor the stubs.”

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