The Cross of Gold Affair - Davies Fredric - Страница 38

“Yesterday we contacted Breelen’s, and, after plucking a Thrush from their midst, convinced them to sell all the stock they had at the prevailing market. Porpoise’s short sales from the day before held the market up for a bit, but the bottom soon fell out. Breelen’s dropped from sixty-two to five in one day. Then Crypto and I sat up all night working on this.” Illya opened the newspaper in his pocket to the crossword puzzle.

“You’ll notice it’s signed Avery D. Porpoise. It also has all three of the key definitions, and the instructions to ‘sell’ at ‘six and three-eighths.’ Breelen’s spent the day buying the flood of Thrush stock, and when I left the market this afternoon they had regained all the stock they had lost in the manipulations and a small margin over. Of course the price is still down from what it should be, but now that Thrush is no longer in the picture things will get back to normal in a month or so.”

Charlie pulled a large gold turnip watch from his vest and announced, “Hey, we got to flit if we’re going to make the first show.” He and Andy arose, and, bidding the soldier in white goodbye, stepped into the hall.

“I’ve got to go too, Napoleon,” Mai said, as she rose to leave.

“Beth, would you care to have dinner at the Masked Club, and take in the hottest new group in town?” Illya asked in his most courtly style. Mai smiled at the compliment. Beth nodded her approval of the plan and Illya offered her one arm, offering the other to Mai.

“Hey, what about me?” Napoleon asked, as everyone prepared to leave.

“This is for you, old chum,” said Illya, placing the open newspaper on Napoleon’s chest. “Work it in good health.” The three left the room, leaving Napoleon staring blankly at the crossword that had solved the case.