Читать книгу The Grand Dark онлайн | страница 73

“I will by then.”

“See that you do,” she said sternly. “I can’t give credit anymore. Even to you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have money.”

“At lunch then.” She turned and went to her bicycle. Largo looked at the door to Herr Branca’s office, took a breath, and went inside.

Branca glanced up at him when Largo entered the room. He made a great show of capping his pen and setting it down on his desk. “Thank you for joining us this morning, Largo.”

“I’m very sorry I’m late.”

“I thought we discussed this. As chief courier, you have to be an example to the others.”

“Yes sir. I understand, but the bullocks, that is, the police wouldn’t let me go.”

Branca frowned and came around his desk. “The police? What did you do to attract their attention?”

“Nothing. There was an incident in the butchers’ quarter and I was trying to leave.”

“What kind of incident?”

“A man was ill. It might have been the Drops.”

“How dramatic,” said Branca. “Why did the police think it was necessary to question you?”

“They accused me of being the man’s accomplice.”

Branca stepped closer to Largo. “Accomplice? Accomplice in what?”

“They said he was an anarchist.”

Branca opened his eyes wider. “And are you?”

“Sir?”

“Are you an anarchist?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s good,” said Branca. “I can’t abide seditionists and neither can the company.”

“There’s something else …,” said Largo.

“Well?”

“I’m afraid they might come to talk to you.”

“Here? You told them where you worked?”

“I had no choice.”

“I see. I assume they searched you? What did the officers say when they discovered your knife?”

Reluctantly, Largo said, “I didn’t have it.”

Branca looked at the ceiling. “Where is it?” he said.

“At home.”

“I see. You didn’t go home last night?”

“No. I was with a sick friend.”

“Of course,” said Branca. He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Perhaps it was a lucky thing, this sick friend of yours. If the police suspected you of a crime they might have misconstrued the knife.”

“Do you think it’s safe for me to continue wearing it?”

Branca clasped his hands behind his back. “You must make a choice. Which is the greater fear: the police, or losing your job and possibly your life?”