some time before Abel used the key Florentyna had always left with him for emergencies. They searched the place, neither really expecting to find her.
'She must have left already,' said George, as he joined Abel in the bedroom.
Tes, but where?' said Abel, and then he saw an envelope addressed to him on the table. He remembered the last letter left for him by the side of a bed that had not been slept in. He ripped it open.
Dear Daddy, Please forgive me for running away but I do love Richard and will not give him up because of your hatred for his father. We will be married right away and nothing you can do will prevent it. If you ever try to harm him in any way, you will be harming me. Neither of us intend to return'to New York until you have ended the senseless feud between our family and the Kane's. I love you more than you will ever realise and I shall always be thankful for everything you have done for me. I pray that this is not the end of our relationship but until you can change your mind, 'Never seek the wind in the field - it is useless to try and find what is gone!
Your loving daughter, Florentyna, Abel collapsed on to the bed, and passed the letter to George, who read the handwritten note and asked helplessly, 'Is there anything I can doT Tes, George. I want my daughter back, even if it means dealing direct with that bastard Kane. Tlere's only one thing I feel certain of : he will want this marriage stopped whatever sacrifice he has to make. Get him on the phone!
It took George some time to locate William Kane's unlisted number. The night security officer at Lester's Bank finally gave it to him when George insisted that it was a family emergency. Abel sat silently on the bed, Florentyna's letter in his hand, remembering how when she was a little girl, he had taught her the old Polish proverb that she had now quoted back to him. When George was put through to the Kane residence, a male voice answered the phone.
Way I speak to Mr. William Kane?' asked George.
'Whorn shall I say is calling?' asked the imperturbable voice 'Mr. Abel RosnavsW said George.
'I'll see if he is in, sir!
'I think that was Kane's butler. He's gone to look for him,' said George, as he passed the receiver over to Abel. Abel waited, his fingers tapping on the bedside table.
'William Kane speaking!
'Ms is Abel Rosnovski.'
'Indeed?' William's tone was icy. 'And when exactly did you think of setting up your daughter with my son? At the time, no doubt, when you failed so conspicuously to cause the downfall of my bank?'
'Don't be such a damn . . .' Abel checked himself. 'I want this marriage stopped every bit as much as you do. I never tried to take away your son.
I only learned of his existence today. I love my daughter even more than I hate you, and I don't want to lose her. Can't we get together and work something out between us?'
'No,' said William. 'I asked you that same question once in the past, Mr.
Rosnovski, and you made it very clear when and where you would meet me.
I can wait until then, because I am confident you will find it is you who are there, not V INhat's the good of raking over the past now, Kane? If you know where they are, perhaps we can stop them. That's what you want, too. Or are you so goddamn proud that you'll stand by and watch your son marry my girl rather thanhelp...?'
The telephone clicked as he spoke the word %elp'. Abel buried his face in his hands and wept. George took him back to the Baron.
Through that night and the following day, Abel tried every way he could think of to find Florentyna. He even rang her mother, who admitted that their daughter had told her all about Richard Kane.
'He sounded rather nice,' she added spitefully.
'Do you know where they are right now?' asked Abel impatiently.
Tes., Vhere?'
Tind out for yourself! Another telephone click.
Abel placed advertisements in newspapers and even bought radio time. He tried to get the police involved, but they could only put out a general call since she was over twenty - one. No word came from her. Finally, he had to admit to himself that by the time he found her she would undoubtedly