LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER THREE

      ON Tuesday evening, Sancha emerged from the office building with Maria Peroni, one of the secretaries she shared the flat with. Teresa Bastini, the other secretary, was working late, so the two girls were going home together.

      It was early evening, the shadows were lengthening across the sidewalks and the velvet touch of darkness was not far away. Even so, the calle was brightly illuminated by the neon signs of the commercial buildings and almost the moment she emerged from the offices Sancha saw Count Malatesta.

      She had not been consciously looking for him, but every day since that first encounter she had found herself tensing apprehensively every time she left work. And now he was here, and she glanced swiftly at Maria, wondering whether the other girl was aware of Sancha's sudden withdrawal.

      The Count was lounging indolently against the basin of a fountain at the entrance to the square beyond the narrow street in which Parita magazine had its offices. He looked devastatingly attractive in a dark dinner suit, the whiteness of his linen complementing the smooth tan of his skin. But to Sancha he was an alien being in more ways than one and his presence there was more than a little disturbing.

      She could be completely wrong, of course. He could be waiting for someone else, someone not attached to the magazine at all, but she had little confidence in that supposition.

      Maria suddenly became aware that Sancha was dragging her feet. ‘What's the matter?’ she queried. ‘Have you forgotten something?'

      Sancha seized on the excuse. ‘Yes—yes, I have. My—er—my make-up.'

      ‘And will you need it?'

      Sancha coloured. ‘Oh, yes, I think so,’ she said, conscious of the bulge of her toilet case in her handbag and feeling rather uncomfortable.

      Maria sighed. ‘Well, you know I have this appointment this evening——'

      ‘That's all right, Maria.’ Sancha shook her head. ‘You go on. I'll follow you. If we don't meet, I'll see you back at the flat.'

      ‘Well—if you're sure.’ Maria looked doubtful.

      ‘Of course I'm sure,’ Sancha smiled. ‘'Bye for now.'

      Maria hesitated only a moment longer and then nodded and hastened off down the narrow calle towards the main thoroughfare. Sancha cast one glance in Count Malatesta's direction, saw him straighten as Maria came towards him, alone, and then she turned and hurried back into the office building.