Ron Goulart - The Curse of the Obelisk

82 RON GOULART
CHAPTER 20
The Great Lorenzo rotated his hand in the twilight. His gold watch climbed free of his
waistcoat pocket, floated up to his hand. "I must be off, children," he announced. "Curtain time in
two hours."
Harry and Jennie were again on the terrace of Baron Grail's chateau.
"The crew you provided ought to have the damn obelisk uncorked any time now," said Harry.
"Why not stay and—"
"It is my motto, my boy, never to keep my eager public waiting." The magician manually
returned his watch to his pocket. "Besides I have a feeling . . . Ah, but no need to play the wet
blanket. Farewell until the morrow."
"Whoa now," said Harry.
"You're not going to leave," said Jennie, "without giving us the benefit of your latest magical
insight."
" 'Tis not a vision," he told them, "merely a hunch."
"And?" asked Harry.
"You— or rather the anxious baron is in for a bit of a disappointment perhaps." The Great
Lorenzo adjusted his top hat, adjusted his cloak and went striding off across the terrace and down
the marble staircase that led to the front drive where his carriage waited.
"What's he hinting at?" Jennie watched the magician disappear into the gathering dusk.
"That maybe there's nothing inside the obelisk."
"But there has to be. All these people couldn't be chasing after nothing."
"Wouldn't be the first time." He walked over and sat on the marble railing.
She perched beside him. "We ought to be back inside. Thing should be just about open."
"Inspector Swann'll holler," said Harry. "Unless you feel your readers could use a few more
details on granite sawing and—"
"Darn it, Harry." She punched his arm. "Just lay off me, okay?"
"I didn't mean to—"
"We're both pretty enthusiastic about our jobs," she said. "You wouldn't drop a case you were
investigating to come off with me. So don't razz me when I—"
"Sure I would. Where do you want me to come off to?"
She turned to study his profile. "Paris wasn't so bad. Let's go back there."
"When?"
Jennie sighed. "There's the same dam snag," she said. "You won't leave Urbania until
Belphoebe Stowe's safe. I won't pack up until I file my story on the rescue."
"We'll both be finished by Friday," he said. "By Monday we can be back in Paris."