Page 112 of A Matter of Honor

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“Destined to remain the Foreign Office’s best kept secret,” she added.

He turned back slowly to face her.

“Alas …” he began, but just at that moment the auctioneer’s hammer came down with a thud. They both looked up.

“Sold to the gentleman at the front for fourteen thousand pounds.”

“Not a bad price,” said Adam, smiling.

“A bargain in my opinion,” said Robin.

Adam turned back to her. “After all,” he said in a whisper, “imagine what the forty-ninth state would have fetched if it had come up for auction.”

ALSO BY JEFFREY ARCHER

NOVELS

A Prisoner of Birth

False Impression

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

Shall We Tell the President?

Kane & Abel

First Among Equals

The Prodigal Daughter

As the Crow Flies

Honor Among Thieves

The Fourth Estate

The Eleventh Commandment

Sons of Fortune

SHORT STORIES

Cat O’ Nine Tales

A Quiver Full of Arrows

A Twist in the Tale

Twelve Red Herrings

To Cut a Long Story Short

The Collected Short Stories

PLAYS

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

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