Vienna Secrets

54

“I know you don’t want to dismiss Slavik,” said Mendel, “but the man is incompetent. If you were more willing to check his figures yourself, then perhaps things would be different.”

“I could try,” Alexander replied.

“That’s it, you see. I don’t believe you would, Alexander. Come now, I’m your brother. I know you better than anybody.”

Alexander bit into his fruit bun and shrugged.

Liebermann sighed.

His father had woken up in a combative mood.

“Blomberg will be meeting with Bohm again next week, and if I’m not mistaken, he’ll demand to see our books. If he doesn’t have confidence in us, he won’t invest-and that will be the end of it. No department store.”

“All right, all right,” said Alexander, raising his hands as though he were being held up at gunpoint. “I understand.”

“Good,” said Mendel. “Max has met Blomberg, haven’t you, Max?”

“Indeed,” said Liebermann.

“And you liked him, didn’t you?”

“Yes, he was very agreeable.” Liebermann managed a vacuous smile.

The reception clerk arrived with a silver tray and addressed the general area of the table, “Herr Dr. Liebermann?”

“Yes?”

“A telegram, sir.”

Liebermann took the envelope off the silver tray and read the communication inside. SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCES WITH EDITOR OF KIKERIKI, CENSOR, AND GANDLER. OFFENDING ARTICLE WITHDRAWN. PERMISSION TO RESUME SOME CLINICAL DUTIES GRANTED, BUT NOT ON WARDS. SHALL EXPECT YOUR RETURN SHORTLY. RHEINHARDT