“are you lost, sir? these are the working areas of the staff, and those stairs you seem about to descend are the back stairs.” rogers, the under -butler, smiled pleasantly at mr stafford.
mr stafford smiled back at rogers, just as pleasantly.
“no, i just wanted a little privacy.”
“very good, sir. and you did not find the room provided you had privacy enough?”
“not for the purpose i required, no.”
rogers nodded. “i see, sir.”
“do you not want to know what my purpose is?”
“you can tell me if you like, sir.”
“i wanted to count my money.”
“ah! always a worthwhile endeavor, sir and as you infer, one best done in the most complete privacy.”
mr stafford reached into his pocket. “would you like to see how much money i have?”
“that is up to you, sir.”
“i always carry money - cash - in case i have a sudden desire to contribute to charity.”
“i believe charity is recommended by all faiths and philosophies , sir.”
“yes. all those that count, anyway. tell me, rogers - i believe that is your name is it not - “
“it is, sir."
“do you have a favorite charity?”
rogers hesitated before replying. “i have some, sir, but if i may be so bold as to say so, i suspect that something more is involved here than one person's or another’s favorite charity.”
“ha, ha! i see you are a sharp fellow, rogers, wth no moss growing between your ears. what then do you think i might be up to? do you think i might wish to rob mrs foster?”
“i do not know what you could find it worth your while to rob her of, sir. surely you realize she does not keep any appreciable amount of cash or jewelry in the house. her wine cellar is acceptable at best. nor does she have any so-called priceless works of art on hand. in any case, my limited understanding is that such things are not at all what they used to be.”
“very good, rogers, very good. tell me, how would you like to be part of making history ?”
rogers raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. “history, sir?
“well, the nightly news, at least. as you surely know, two of mrs foster’s guests tonight are lord chandler and m. mahmoud. “
“i am as aware of that as you are, sir.”
“i will let you in on a little secret. i am a member of a so-called ‘mob’ which is going to kidnap lord chandler and m mahmoud tonight and perhaps change the course of history. my confederates are speeding towards us even as we speak. what do you think of that, eh”
“i must confess such a proceeding might get people’s attention.”
“how would you like to bring a little excitement into our life and go in with us? become part of our gang?”
“begging your pardon, sir, are you not being a bit presumptuous in assuming my life lacks excitement?”
“oh, i meant no offense, i assure you.” just then mr stafford’s phone rang and he hastily took it out of his pocket. “excuse me.”
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