CHAPTER 19-2

 

　　"The ramifications that go on in the City are likea gigantic jigsaw," he said. "Itwould make my head ache if I had to deal with that side of things. I gather that a company– Mayfair Holding Trust or some name like that – is the registered owner. They‘re owned by anothercompany and so on and so on. The real truth of the matter is that it belongs to you.Simple as that. I’m right, aren‘tI?"

　　"I and my fellow directors are what I dare say you’d call behind it, yes," admitted Mr. Hoffmanrather reluctantly.

　　"Your fellow directors. And who might they be?Yourself and, I believe, a brother of yours?"

　　"My brother Wilhelm is associated with me in thisventure. You must understand that Bertram‘s is only a part ofa chain of various hotels, offices, clubs and other London properties."

　　"Any other directors?"

　　"Lord Pomfret, Abel Isaacstein." Hoffman’s voice was suddenly edged. "Do you really need to know all these things? Just because you are lookinginto the Case of the Disappearing Clergyman?"

　　Father shook his head and looked apologetic.

　　"I suppose it‘s reallycuriosity. Looking for my disappearing clergyman was what took me to Bertram’s, but then I got – well, interested if youunderstand what I mean. One thing leads to another sometimes, doesn‘t it?"

　　"I suppose you could be so, yes. And now?"he smiled, "your curiosity is satisfied?"

　　"Nothing like coming to the horse’s mouth when you want information, is there?" saidFather, genially. He rose to his feet. "There‘s only one thing I’d really like to know –and I don‘t suppose you’ll tell me that."

　　"Yes. Chief-Inspector?" Hoffman‘s voice was wary.

　　"Where do Bertram’s get hold of their staff?Wonderful! That fellow what‘s-his-name – Henry. The one that looks like an Archduke or an Archbishop, I’m not sure which. Anyway, he serves you tea and muffins – most wonderful muffins! An unforgettable experience."

　　"You like muffins with much better, yes?"Mr. Hoffman‘s eyes rested for a moment onthe rotundity of Father’s figure with disapprobation.

　　"I expect you can see I do," said Father. "Well, I mustn‘t be keeping you. I expect you’re pretty busytaking over takeover bids, or something like that."

　　"Ah. It amuses you to pretend to be ignorant ofall these things. No, I am not busy. I do not let business absorb me too much. My tastesare simple. I live simply, with leisure, with growing of roses, and my family to whom I ammuch devoted. “

　　"Sounds ideal," saidFather. "Wish I could live like that."

　　Mr. Hoffman smiled and rose ponderously to shakehands with him.

　　"I hope you will find your disappearing clergymanvery soon."

　　"Oh! That‘s all right.I’m sorry I didn‘t make myselfclear. He’s found – disappointingcase, really. Had a car accident and got concussion – simpleas that."

　　Father went to the door, then turned and asked:

　　"By the way, is Lady Sedgwick a director of yourcompany?"

　　"Lady Sedgwick?" Hoffmantook a moment or two. "No. Why should she be?"

　　"Oh well, one hears thing – Just a shareholder?"

　　"I – yes."

　　"Well, good-bye, Mr. Hoffman. Thanks very much."

　　Father went back to the Yard and straight to theA.C.

　　"The two Hoffman brothers are the ones behindBertram‘s Hotel – financially."

　　"What? Those scoundrels?" demanded Sir Ronald.

　　"Yes."

　　"They’ve kept it verydark."

　　"Yes – and RobertHoffman didn‘t half like our finding it out. It was a shock tohim."

　　"What did he say?"

　　"Oh, we kept it all very formal and polite. Hetried, not too obviously, to learn how I had found out about it."

　　"And you didn’t obligehim with that information, I suppose."

　　"I certainly did not."

　　"What excuse did you give for going to see him?"

　　"I didn‘t give any,"said Father.

　　"Didn’t he think thata bit odd?"

　　"I expect he did. On the whole I thought that wasa good way to play it, sir."

　　"If the Hoffmans are behind all this, it accountsfor a lot. They‘re never concerned in anything crookedthemselves – oh no! They don’torganise crime – they finance it though!"

　　"Wilhelm deals with the banking side fromSwitzerland. He was behind those foreign currency rackets just after the war – we knew it – but we couldn‘t prove it. Those two brothers control a great deal of money and they use itfor backing all kinds of enterprises – some legitimate –some not. But they’re careful – they know every trick of the trade. Robert‘sdiamond broking is straightforward enough – but it make s asuggestive picture – diamonds – bankinginterests, and property – clubs, cultural foundations, officebuildings, restaurants, hotels – all apparently owned bysomebody else."

　　"Do you think Hoffman is the planner of theseorganised robberies?"

　　"No, I think those two deal only with finance. No,you’ll have to look elsewhere for your planner. Somewherethere‘s a first-class brain at work."