The Italian ambassador looked at the doctor and said, “Ahl So you were the one.” He turned to Mary. “I, heard about your unfortunate experience.”
“It would have been unfortunate if Dr. Desforges hadn’t come along. Thank you.”
Louis Desforges smiled. “I’m happy that I was in the right place at the right time.”
The ambassador saw an English contingent enter and said, “If you will excuse us, there is someone we have to see.”
He and his aide hurried off. Mary was alone with the doctor.
“Why did you run away when the police came?” she asked.
He studied her a moment. “It is not good policy to get involved with the ]Remanian police. They have a way of arresting witnesses, then pumping them for information. I’m a doctor attached to the French embassy here, and I don’t have diplomatic enununity. I do, however, know a great deal about what goes on at our embassy.”
He smiled. “So forgive me if I seemed to desert you.”
There was a directness about him that was very appealing. In some way that Mary could not define, he reminded her of Edward. Perhaps because Louis Desforges was a doctor. But no, it was more than that. He had the same openness that Edward had had, almost the same smile.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Dr. Desforges said, “I must go and become a social animal.”
“You don’t like parties?”
He winced. “I despise them.”
“Does your wife enjoy them?”
“Yes, she did. Very much.” He hesitated, then said, “She and our two children are dead.”
Mary paled. “Oh, I’m so sorry. How His face was rigid. “I blame myself. We were living in Algeria. I was in the underground, fighting the terrorists.” His words became slow and halting. “They found out my identity and blew away the house. I was away at the time.”
“I’m so sorry,” Mary said again. Hopeless, inadequate words.
“There is a cliche that time heals everything. I no longer believe it.” His voice was bitter. He looked at her and said, “If you will excuse me, Madam Ambassador.” He turned and walked over to greet a group of arriving guests.
He does remind me a little of Edward, Mary thought again. He’s a brave man. He’s in a lot of pain, . and I think That’s what draws me to him. I’m in pain too. Will I ever get over missing you, Edward? It’s so lonely here.
THE following day Mary could not get Dr. Louis Desforges out of her mind. He had saved her life and then disappeared. She was glad she had found him again. On an impulse she bought a beautiful silver bowl for him and had it sent to the French embassy. It was a small enough gesture after what he had done.
That afternoon Dr. Desforges telephoned. “Good afternoon, Madam Ambassador.” The phrase sounded delightful in his French accent. “I called to thank you for your thoughtful gift. I assure you that it was unnecessary. I was delighted that I was able to be of some service.”
“It was more than just some service,” Mary told him.
There was a pause. “Would you-” He stopped.
“Yes?” Mary prompted.
“Nothing, really.” He sounded suddenly shy. “I was wondering if you might care to have dinner with me one evening, but I know how busy you must be and-“
“would love to,” Mary said quickly.
“Really? Are you free tomorrow night?”
“I have a party at six, but we could go after that.”
“Ah, splendid.”
They agreed to meet at the Taru Restaurant at eight o’clock.
IN THE limousine on the way to the restaurant the next evening Mary asked Florian to stop at the embassy. She had left a silk scarf in her office and wanted to pick it up.
Gunny was on duty at the desk. He stood at attention and saluted her. Mary went up the stairs to her office and turned on the light. She stood there, frozen. On the wall someone had sprayed in red paint GO HOME BEFORE YOU DIE. She backed out of the room, whitefaced, and ran down to the lobby. “Gunny. Wh-who’s been in my office?” she demanded.
“Why, no one that I know of, ma’am.”
“Let me see your roster sheet.” She tried to keep her voice from quavering.
“Yes, ma’am.” Gunny pulled out the visitors’ access sheet and handed it to her. Each name had the time of entry listed after it. She started at five thirty, the time she had left the office, and scanned the list. There were a dozen names.
Mary looked up at the marine guard. “Were all the people on this list escorted to the offices they visited?”
“Always, Madam Ambassador. No one goes up to the second floor without an escort. Is something wrong?”
Something was very wrong.
Mary said, “Please send someone to my office to paint out that obscenity on the wall.”
She turned and hurried outside, afraid she was going to be sick.
DR. Louis DESFORGES was waiting for Mary when she arrived .at the restaurant. He stood up as she approached the table.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” Mary tried to sound normal. She wished she had not come. She pressed her hands together to keep them from trembling.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m fine.” Go home before you die. “I think I’d like a straight Scotch, please.”
The doctor ordered drinks, then said, “It can’t be easy being an ambassador in this country-especially for a woman. Remanians are male chauvinists, you know.”
Mary forced a smile. “Tell me about yourself ” Anything to take her mind off the threat.