Page 224 of Storm of Bells
‘Silence! I am meditating on businessstrategies.’
‘I’m sure you are.’ A smile tugged at thecorner of my mouth. ‘While you’re meditating…’
‘Yes?’
‘Could you tell me what you said toDalgliesh?’
There was a momentary pause.
‘You still haven’t given up on that?’
‘In the time we’ve known each other, howoften have I given up on anything?’
‘Adequate point.’
‘I’m glad you agree. So…’ I let the sentencetrail off meaningfully.
Once more, he was silent for a moment.
‘It is dangerous knowledge. The less you areaware of, the safer you would be.’
‘And that matters because…?’
‘I am being serious!’
‘And so am I.’ Turning to face him, I grabbedhis face between my hands, looking him straight in the eyes. ‘We’rein this together. You promised to share everything with me,remember?’
‘Damnation! I did, didn’t I?’
‘Indeed, Sir.’
‘Thrice blasted Book of Common Prayer!’
‘Indeed. So, tell me—who or what is“Enfield”?’
‘Very well.’ His eyes narrowedinfinitesimally. ‘I shall tell you. But be warned. This knowledgeis incalculably dangerous. It is no exaggeration to say that, if itwere to fall into certain people’s hands, it would launch a war ofepic proportions. It might very well be the most closely guardedmilitary secret of the world.’
My heart made a leap. I guess I should haveexpected nothing less. For something to be able to scare Dalglieshwitless…what could it possibly be?
‘Tell me,’ I whispered. ‘Tell me everything.I promise, I’ll never reveal a word.’
‘Very well, then. The secret is that in asecret weapons factory, Dalgliesh has begun to…’ Leaning forward,he lowered his voice to a whisper and spoke a few short, concisesentences straight into my ear.
My eyes widened and my mouth droppedopen.
‘This…this can’t be…’
He nodded sombrely. ‘It is true, I assureyou.’
‘This can’t be it!’ With both hands, Igrabbed and shook him. ‘Butter? This is the big secret? This iswhat I’ve been obsessing over the last few days? You justblackmailed one of the most powerful men in the world intosubmission by threatening to reveal heuses butter?’
‘Animal fat. Not butter.’
‘Big fat difference!’
‘Actually, it is.’ And he proceeded toexplain exactly why the difference was all-important, and what sortof power it held over Dalgliesh. I listened to him, my mouth gapingwider with every word he spoke.
‘Holy cow!’
