"I'll definitely never get used to your methods." "Sorry, you sissy:" "I came the only way I could." "Cops never look up." "Say." "What about the nylon wire?" "Wonderful stuff." "The smallest piece of wire, easy to hide and able to support a man's weight." "A man's?" "You mean a gorilla's." "Hey, cool it down, I lost at least five kilos there." "So the Old Man doesn't feel well?" "Worse than that." "Well?" "Do you have a present for me?" "What's up, Mauricet?" "Very bad things." "Baudrel disappeared." "Oh?" "Did you go back there?" " No." "Not for one week." "That's where we must go, then, and now!" "To the hideout?" "What are you, crazy?" " You know I don't like useless talk!" "I was hoping they'd tame you a little, there, but I can see you're still the same pain in the arse." "Can you smell it?" " Yes, I can." "So what?" "Now, Géo, really..." " Come on, come on, come on." "Well, this time, they really sent us a gift." "Yeah, but now, we've got to find the rest." "Come, it must be this way." "It's here." "Look, the padlock is still on." "What did I tell you?" "What about behind it?" "It can't be." "You know very well that the cupboard is sealed into the wall." "Oh yeah?" "How long had he been missing?" "The last time I heard from him was a fortnight ago." "He was in the Orient Express." "You know, the dollars smuggling case." "In yugoslavia." "What I'd like to know is how they spotted him." "They didn't spot him." "Somebody betrayed him." "Of course." "When you're being thrown this kind of flower, it always heralds a visit." "So soon?" "Are you sure?" " Well, go and see." "Look, I..." "I'm not going to welcome them dressed like this, am I?" "Gentlemen?" " Are you the lodger of this house?" "Yes, gentlemen, I am." " You're a part time lodger, ain't you?" "Excuse me, but I fail to see..." " You don't live here all the time?" "Because the air here is absolutely unhealthy." "There were complaints." "Excuse me, gentlemen, but to whom have I the honour...?" "Antoine Legrand, Health committee inspector." "Oh, the health committee..." "Oh, yes, I understand, yes." "It's my poor dog." "What do you mean, your dog?" " I came back this morning from a trip and found him in the basement." "He was dead." "Could we verify the fact?" "Oh... well, I'm willing to oblige you but I'd have to dig him up." "When you arrived, I was just finished shovelling." "Alright." "You'll have to call the sanitization service, soon as possible." " Yes, sir." "Can I count on you?" " Indeed, sir." "Say, we'll have to hurry cause..." " Yes, I heard." "But we have to hurry even more than you think, they didn't just kill Baudrel:" "they tortured him." "And if they did, it was to make him talk." "At 9, you'll phone the Old Man, he'll have the body removed." "What we have to learn is whether Baudrel talked or not." "And if he did, what did he say." "And to whom." "I've got an idea." "And I have it from the beginning." "I can see your idea coming." " Casa and his mob." "Casa and his mob?" "Casa is this small." "He works on order, just like a dressmaker." "Yes, but he works for someone who's more important." "And the important person is sore at us because we hinder his foreign currency trafficking." "Your reasoning is damn faultless." " So Casa..." "I know." "I know." "Casa knew Baudrel from us, and he gave him to this important chap because he couldn't act any other way." " Well, if it is so..." "Well I forbid you to go and see Casa, and I forbid you to go to the Grand Daim." "Do you hear, Mauricet?" "When one has a phony skull, a patched skull like yours, one does not play DuGuesclin." "And the Grand Daim is closed in winter anyway." "The Great Deer Closed from October to March." "We're closed." " I know." "You're closed in winter, but I'd like to speak to Casa." " Well, since you know..." "I also happen to know that Casa is here." "Oh?" "Casa!" "Are you here?" "I can give him a message." "What... what is your name?" "It's..." "Mauricet!" "I'm here." "Let him in." "Say, if it's not Phony Skull!" "So, your diabetes is not getting any better?" "Do I ask you news of your patch?" "Oh, you poor chap." "You look like an insomniac." "Don't you have nightmare, these days?" "Alright, Popaul." "For shots, you're the champ!" "See you tonight." "Why did you kill Baudrel?" " Baudrel is dead?" "Right, act surprised." "Baudrel was murdered." "And somewhat tortured." "The trouble is only you knew that sleeping cars employee Pierre Baudrel worked for Géo Paquet." "You never got over your patch trick, did you?" "Come on, Mauricet." "I worked with you." "We slogged together, I worked for the Gorilla." "Can you picture me telling on a friend?" "Oh, yes, great, the old war comrades trick!" " Why would I have told on Baudrel?" "For the same reason that you let Géo down." "For dough!" "You're only interested in that, now." "Because you're all broken." "Is this what broke you?" "So what?" "It fits my age!" " You acquired a smell with age." "Ten years ago, we had our doubts about you." "Now we know." "You're a perfect bastard." "Well, I couldn't help it." "Baudrel was careless." "Each time we passed, as if by chance, he was in the wagon." "They didn't like it." "Casa, do you want me to tell you what you are?" "A pigeon." "A carrier pigeon." "Because when you travel, you carry dollars, pounds sterling, some gold..." "So what?" "Did you never inspect the wads to see whether there was something else in them." "What could there be?" " I'm going to tell you." "Did you never hear about microfilms?" " Microfilms?" "Are you crazy?" "Is the DS in the yard yours?" " Yeah." "It's in the way." "You must move it." "What?" "Right now?" " Yes, right now." "We must go." "The house is closed during the winter." "The fact can't be ignored." "See you soon, Casa." "See you soon, Mauricet." "This way!" "Yeah?" " I'd like news of your banjo." "There is none." "Yes, it's making progress." "What's making progress?" " The circus." "You just need a clown." " Yeah." "Interested in the job?" "How about the other one?" "Still nothing?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Hello, Géo?" "Hello?" "What are you doing, Géo?" "Hello, Géo?" "What the hell are you doing?" "What are you doing, are you pulling my leg?" " I've got news." "Mauricet... ran into trouble." "Your health, Léon!" "And hurrah for Saint Léon's day!" "It's not Saint Léon's day, it's Léon's birthday!" "So, Casa, still on a diet?" "Won't you drink with us?" "No, thank you." "Give him a shot, it will make him well again." "You can't refuse to drink with me on my birthday." "He's afraid of having a fit." "I've also got cigars." "I'll fetch them for you, you'll like them." "Fetch another one." "Somebody's going to knock." "Open the door." "You'll say it's private." "And don't let him talk you into anything." "Oh, sorry, but we're closed in winter." "Are you?" "Not for everybody..." "This is private." " Right..." "Will you bring the whisky already?" "Come on, Popaul, are you sleeping?" "Did you have too much to drink?" "Isolène!" "Do you always come in private homes like this?" "Breaking and entering?" "Friends warned me that this was a dangerous place but... not that dangerous..." " You're not from around here?" "I am." "But I'm just back from a trip." "In the jungle, maybe?" "Gorillas live in jungles, don't they?" "Say, you know a lot of things, don't you?" "You know everything." "I'd like to know more." " Curious?" "I can't believe how much I hear about you these days." "And this whole gorilla thing really excites me." "Oh, you like exotic things?" "Not really but, you see, I know all there is to know about men, so... a gorilla..." "You're careless." "Sometimes, gorillas are not exactly quiet, you know." "That's the whole point." " Reckless?" "No, a regular daredevil." " What if Casa surprises us?" "You know a lot of things too." " And I'd like to know more too." "Just say the word." " What if Casa comes in suddenly?" "Not a chance." "Casa's not here." "He's not here?" " No." "Well, I, for one, am not so sure that he's not here." "I can show you the other rooms now." "The ones upstairs." "What's upstairs?" " Bedrooms." "Some other time." "Right now I'd like to see the dining room." "Don't go there." "It's private, I know, I've been told before." " Casa is with his friends." "Oh, so he came back?" "His friends are throwing a little party and your presence could upset them." "Really sorry, but I came to see Casa and his friends, and I shall see them." "I'm very stubborn, you know." "Do you know the risks?" " Yes." "And you're going anyway?" " Yes." "Not only are you a gorilla, you're a man." "Yes." "And a gallant man to boot." "Why don't you go first?" "To each his vice." "Isn't it true?" "What do you say, Popaul?" "Casa." "What does it mean?" "Is this a joke?" "I don't know." "Isolène." " What?" "He broke the door down." "What do you want?" " Am I intruding?" "You've been told the place is closed." " If you would now go first." "Mind the step." "Combinat!" "The gentleman is a friend of Casa's." "Casa!" "Be a man of the world:" "introduce me to your friend." "Géo Paquet." "Léon, a friend." "We weren't expecting you but have a drink." "Delighted, but I don't want to intrude." "Excuse me." " What is it?" "We'll soon know." "I'm going to place a phone call." "A phone call?" "To whom?" " Just a phone call." "Maybe it's useless." " It's not." "Go on with the introductions." "It will keep him entertained." "Combinat, a friend." "Géo Paquet, the Gorilla!" "The real thing. 200 pounds come rain or come shine." "Why did you come?" "Are you mad?" "No, I'm quite well." "Isn't it obvious?" "I came alone." "I would have taken Baudrel with me but he's dead." "Too bad." "Géo Paquet." "A friend." "Oh, the Gorilla?" "I'd never seen one outside of a cage." "Of course, you're just out of one." "Was it Clervaux?" "No, Melun." "Enjoy your meal." "Won't you ask me why I didn't come with my friend Mauricet?" "Oh, Mauricet?" "How's his head?" "Shut up, Casa, just shut up." " What's with you?" "Shut up, Casa." "I'd rather have you introduce me." "So you were in Melun?" " You knew?" "This is Albert." " Hello." "This is an old friend." " In Melun, did you know Lucien." "Lucien from Avallon, a tall red-headed bloke." "No." "You killed Baudrel." "You killed Mauricet." "So, who's third?" "Will it be me?" "Why did you come here, you poor sod?" " To learn the name of your boss." "Here he is." " No, the real one." "This is a flunky." "The other one." "The real one." "I can't, Géo." "Don't ask me that." "Funny, your story about Melun!" "Léon will probably take you to the boss." "Don't you dare go with him." "Do you have what it takes?" "Mister Géo Paquet, I think we're leaving." " Oh, are you going so soon?" "And you're coming with us." "The introductions are not quite finished." "I was under the impression that I knew everybody." "Oh, no, not the most important person." " The boss?" "That's it." "The boss wants to meet you." "Well, I'll be really happy to meet him." "When I've got an opportunity." "You've got an opportunity now." " What's the hurry?" "We work in the same line." "Why should we hinder each other?" "The hindrances were called Baudrel and Mauricet." "Oh, I can see you get my drift." "So, are you coming?" "I warn you:" "I'm a heavy weight to carry." "People like you are not carried." "They're invited." "If I heard correctly, your name is Combinat?" "So what?" " What's his?" "What concern is it of yours?" " Of, after all, nothing at all." "Come on, let's go, guys." "He's going to get thrashed." " Leave him to me." "I'll beat him easy." "Congratulations." " The dirty bastard gave us some trouble." "The boss is waiting for you." "Get going." "And beware: this thing sometimes shoots on its own." "Yeah, I know." "What did Casa do during all this time?" " Casa is sick." "He's in bed, he just had a fit." "And he's liable to have another one." "His condition is very serious." "In his position, he's got to take precautions." "A lot of precautions." "Well, I hope Casa gets better." "As for the three of us, we're going to enjoy a short ride." "Go on!" "Don't move!" "Will you stop, now?" "You're ruining my driving." "What are your mates made of?" "Concrete?" "I think I dislocated two of my fingers." "Ain't you finished yet?" " Don't worry about your fingers." "The boss has a pal who's a bone setter." "A really wonderful guy." "He's a specialist and he likes it." " Especially fiery points." "Do you know the "fiery points all over you" trick?" "It fuels conversation like mad." " I'm not talkative." "The bloke I'm speaking of knows so many tricks that you always end up talking, just like this, not even knowing how." "Hey, pal, if you scream because of two broken fingers, you're going to sing an opera later." " Oh, leave me alone, will you?" "I don't know how it goes for you, but the Corsican is like all Corsicans:" "he won't talk." "What about yours?" " Mine is not Corsican and, on the contrary, he can't be stopped." "And what's more, he only talks bullshit." "You would say anything to get your aspirin, wouldn't you?" "I swear it's the truth." " Yes, you were in the passenger's seat." "Yours was driving." "And the big bad one was in the middle." "And he knocked you both out." "With one blow, just like this." "Who do you think we are?" "Gendarmes?" " But it did happen that way." "Do you really want the aspirin?" "Go, go on telling us Tarzan's adventures." "So, what was the athlete's name?" "I don't remember his name but the others called him "the Gorilla"." "What was that again?" "Repeat!" " The Gorilla." "Get me the DST, please!" "Inspector Blavet." "Well, old sport..." "Blavet?" "Are you still interested in the Gorilla?" "Himself, no." "No, but we found one of his paws." "In a Corsican bloke's face." "So you don't know anything, do you?" "You were in the Grand Daim inn, closed during winter, with mates you don't know." "I'm just the Corsican's employee." "He knows." "The Corsican who wouldn't talk." "Yes, yes, OK, OK." "Well, there was a brawl, the Gorilla was the loser, you had him get into your car and, of course,only the Corsican knows where you were supposed to take him?" " Yes." "What about the owner of the Grand Daim?" "Who's he?" "A bloke by the name of Casa." "Thank You." " It's not brilliant, director." "We'll go on tomorrow." "Send this good man where he can get some rest." "Go." "You seem strangely satisfied, director." "Maybe I have a reason." "Oh?" "Personally I don't see." "No?" "No, I fail to see how this "gorilla", a foreign currency smuggler, escaped from Melun, fighting with gangsters in a club supposedly closed in winter, relates to your offensive seeking-head rocket, the BK7," "which has been denying you your sleep for six weeks." "Isn't it funny, though?" "A gang of currency smugglers suddenly involved in a cloak and dagger plot." "Funny, yes, but surprising." "My dear Blavet, in our line of work, imagination is needed." "What do we know exactly here, at the Direction of the Surveillance of the Territory?" "That the blueprints of the BK7 seeking-head rocket are stolen as soon as they are drawn in French aviation industry services." "Not stolen, director." "We discovered that they were photographed." "And we don't know where the photographs go, nor how." "To a foreign country, of course, but which one...?" "Oh, I can now see how it relates to the foreign currency." "Tell me which currency, I'll tell you which country." "Stop laughing and listen to me, Blavet." "I'm a spy." "An intelligent and organized spy." "I have in my hand the small photos of the rocket." "Very small photos." " Microfilms." "Microfilms." "And as many copies of them as I want." "Alright." "I want to send them abroad." "Do you think I'll use one of my own men, whose file could be in the offices of Riard, director of the DST, namely me?" "What do I do, then?" "I close a deal with a gang of currency smugglers." "I ask them to have some flunky get through a few 100 dollars bills wads, in which I have slipped my microfilm without their knowledge, and to deliver the whole thing to mister X, hotel Y, in Lausanne." "This way, if the flunky gets caught, he won't have anything to say." "Because he doesn't understand anything." "Because he doesn't know anything." "So the Gorilla would be the flunky?" " I don't know about that." "What I know is that we have the BK7 on one side, the Gorilla on another side, and, since earlier today, the Grand Daim." "Yes, of course, where does an escaped foreign currency smuggler go?" "He goes to see his mates, he asks for explanations, he gets clobbered..." "And what does a DST inspector who just found out about all this do?" "Well he changes into a tax inspector and he goes to the Grand Daim." "Is that all?" " That's all." "We're closed in winter and I don't keep a stock." "Is it Scotch whisky?" " It's written on the label." "Couldn't it rather be Corsican whisky?" " Corsican whisky?" "Yes." "Whisky that the Corsicans buy from the Americans then slip to you without an invoice." "That way, you win on every level." "A house like mine doesn't take that kind of risk." "Oh, yes, a house like yours." "Because, of course, you've got invoices?" "Yes." "I must have them." " Oh, you should." "Isolene." "The invoices for the whisky?" " What?" "The invoices for the whisky?" "Well, yes, the invoices for the whisky." "Well, I can see the whisky." "What I fail to see are the invoices." "And I need them." "Otherwise the Grand Daim will be closed." "And not only for the winter." "Not to mention the fact that a lot of questions will be asked." "About a number of things." "Well?" "Is this what you were looking for?" "Oh, here are the invoices!" "Congratulations, gentlemen." "It pleases me to see a house in order" "An honest house, where everything's clear." "With underwritten invoices." "I couldn't ask for more." "And, as any satisfied client would say:" "I'll come again." "So?" "Are you happy?" "He'll come again, but what's important is that he came once." "A tax inspector?" " Tax inspector my arse." "Didn't you see his face?" "This is not a 50.000 F a month cop." "But the strangest thing is that he came today and the Gorilla came yesterday." "The Gorilla would work with the Police, sure!" "No." "No, but this pal of yours is too noisy." "He breaks the hardware and kidnaps my men." "Yes, because Valerio and Popaul... vanished." "This is noticeable, and it gets the Grand Daim noticed." "The boss doesn't care if he's got a honest competitor, but he hates a competitor who threatens to get him in trouble." "Since yesterday night, your friend Géo Paquet is living on borrowed time." "What does all this bullshit mean?" "It means we trust you less and less." "So what do I do?" "Do I scram?" " No." "You stay." "You do not move." "But you're not home for anybody." "But I can't." "My treatment." "My shots." "Now that Popaul isn't here anymore." "Don't worry, I'll give you the shots." "How nice is your little wife." "Well, what's with you?" "Didn't you understand?" "Usually, when they warn you, they don't talk that much." "Come on, what are you saying?" " I'm done for, Isolene." "Are you having a fit?" " Of course not." "The necessary stuff is in the cupboard." "It's so bad." " Oh, you're a bore." "Don't you understand that they want to kill me?" "They're just waiting for an opportunity." "Did you hear what Combinat said?" "I've only got to wait." "Why do you panic?" "Through you, they're just aiming for the Gorilla." "I've got a history." "They've always been wary of me." "My history never got them to trust me." " Did you play soldierboy?" "There are things you can't be expected to understand." "Isolene, you must go and see Géo." " What for?" "Only he can pull me out of this." " It's dangerous." "Your friend Géo is a man." "I like him a lot." "I know very well that you're a bitch." "But you must go." "Do you hear?" "I guess you'll find him in Mauricet's home." "It's a house 30, Quai Verrière." "Briis sur Marne." "At your own risk." "If all our auxiliaries were as valuable as you are..." "Compliments, madam." "Goodbye." "What a bitch." "I tell you they're chasing me!" " Serves you right." "Do you know what you've got for guts?" "A fridge." "One day, I shall punch your face." " You always say that on the phone." "Excuse me, I'm wanted." "I'm in the cage." "We just need the beast." "You're going to catch a cold if you strip right now." "So you think that's why I'm here?" "No, you came because you have something to tell me." "Maybe I also, have something to tell you." "Well, let's start with it then." "Too bad." "Well..." "Casa is done for." "After your exploits of yesterday, the cops visited the Grand Daim and the big boss didn't like any of it." "Do you know the big boss?" " I?" "Not at all." "Do you want a drink?" " To get me in the mood?" "So, the big boss..." "what's the trouble with Casa?" "They don't get along?" "They don't see things the same way?" "What the hell are you doing?" "Why, I'm taking off my lipstick, of course." "Well, Casa?" " They want to off him." "He says his history makes them mistrust him." "Is that what he sent you to tell me?" "Yes." "He wanted you to pull him out of this jam." "What do you mean: he wanted?" " I wanted to keep you, Géo." "What does that mean?" "Look: where Casa will be, Combinat won't hurt him." "And you won't expose any of this uselessly." "So you just blew the whistle on him?" " Why the harsh words?" "It was the only thing to do." "You know that Casa is at the end of his rope, he's out of breath." "And at least, they will take care of his health there." "Do you know that what you just did generally deserves a cross on the cheek with a razor?" "It was to save him." "And especially you." "And did the cops buy your little bit of nonsense?" "They just told me they would take care of it." "Well, you were right to warn me." "Because, imagine that, if not for you, I would have gone to the Grand Daim." "So?" "Orders?" " No, nothing." "We'll just have to wait then." "Hello?" " Hello?" "This is Géo." "Oh, it's you, Géo." "Where are you?" " Not far from your place." "Did you see Isolene?" " Yes, I saw Isolene." "Oh, so she went." "That's what I'm telling you." "What seems to be the problem?" "Combinat and the others went away, but the cops took their place." "Somebody told on you." " Who did?" "Who could tell on me?" "Who do you think?" "Your mates!" "It's an elegant way to get rid of you." "I'll come for you." "I drive a blue 203, you'll take the DS." "Combinat stole the keys." " I'm not surprised." "Do as I tell you:" "wait for me in the greenhouse." "Do as I tell you, Casa!" "Here!" "It's too bad, I do not smoke cigarettes." "Well, you'll put them in your pipe." "Here you are." "Thanks." "Excuse me, I thought I saw a dog crossing the road." "To the car, hurry up!" "Stop the car!" "Won't you stop the car!" "Stop the car, for God's sake!" "Hey, you blocked some lead!" "This time, it's the good one." " Yeah, the good wound." "Where are you taking me?" "To see the Old Man." "How about it?" "It will bring back memories." "No, not the Old Man." "It's too late to see the Old Man." "What I asked yesterday, Casa." "The name of your boss." "Now is the time to tell me." "Who's the boss, Casa?" "Who's the important man?" "You must tell me." "The Old Man needs to know." "It would... it would please the Old Man?" "You can't refuse that man anything." "The boss of the whole unsavoury business is called..." "What is he called?" "William..." "William..." "William who?" "William Veslot." "Where does he live?" "Give me his address, Casa." "His address, Casa!" " In Neuilly..." "In Neuilly..." "Casa, for God's sake!" "What do I care that Casa was wearing his Légion d'Honneur under his lapel?" "You don't expect to see me cry, do you?" "There's no danger of that." "But Casa is dead nonetheless." "Do you or don't you have the name of the bloke?" "I've got his name, and even his address." " Incredible." "His name is William Veslot and he lives in Neuilly." "Mission accomplished." "Is that all?" " What do you mean, is that all?" "Is that all you think you must do?" "Colonel Berthomieux, they call you the Old Man, they don't say what kind of man, but I'm going to tell you." "You, as mission director of the French secret service, asked me to bring you the name of the character who trafficked the blueprints of the BK7, and, in order to accomplish that mission, three of our men died!" "Two, two, two." "Baudrel and Mauricet." "Casa was not part of the house anymore." "He was once, that's exactly the same thing." "Not for me." "He should have been executed when he left the service." "His death is in the logical order of things." " Oh, you really are an old.." "An old bastard, yes, I know." "But, you, with your hundred kilos of meat, you just have a very small roach for a brain!" "Why, I'm asking for the name of a bloke who's stealing the blueprints of the BK7, you bring it to me and you're satisfied?" "What did you want?" "The bloke himself for lunch?" "Unfortunately, Mr. William Veslot is in too high a position for this." "That's why I called you to deal with him." "You should be flattered." "Two months in the can in Melun is no flattery, it's a treat." "Yes, you liked that, didn't you." "Anyway, it was a way to establish contact." "They had to believe that Géo Paquet was a currency smuggler." "Veslot had to believe it." "Officially, we can't touch mister Veslot." "Since you're God almighty and know everything, please tell me who informed you!" "Mr. Riard, the director of the DST." "And why are you and me involved in this business?" "To do the rest." "What Riard and the official police can't do." "Is this William Veslot that important?" "Important?" "Important?" "Do you know those regrettable buildings at the foot of the Palais de Chaillot?" "Oh, the UN." "The untouchables." "Well, mister Veslot is a representative at the UN." "Which allows him to steal our national secrets while we can't do anything against him." "While the DST can't do anything against him." "You can say that again." "So you must act." " Alone?" "No, I've got somebody for you." " A new recruit?" "Yes" " Oh, I don't like it." "Berthier!" " What is this now?" "His name is Berthier." "From the aeronautics' Second Bureau." "A specialist of BK7?" " No, an apprentice spook." "With pleasure, if you'll have me, colonel." "Don't get all excited, my boy." "Wait till you know this man better." "The colonel?" " Yes." "The colonel, yes." "During a mission, you can't count on him for anything!" "Oh, if he's got something to ask from you, he will." "But if you're in danger, if the cops are sniffing your arse, you don't have a single chance to see him." "The colonel ignores you!" "The only person he knows is the President of the Council." "He and only he give the orders!" "But how can we have the cops sniffing our... our back." "Spooks like you or me have no legal existence." "We do not exist." "Get it?" "Not yet, no." "You will, you will." "Now follow me closely:" "the police are fly-fishing, the DST are fishing with a spinner, with a light rod and reel..." "Well, more or less light." "We are fishing with grenades!" "And nobody must hear." "We don't have a licence." "We're poachers." "But... the President of the Council?" "Oh, the President knows legality on one hand and the reason of State on the other hand, but when the reason of State can't be legally defended... like in the case of the BK7... well that's when we're called in." "Yeah..." " In case of emergency, they give us a call." "And what the DST cannot do, we do." "What if we're caught?" " Nobody cares." "Everybody lets us down." "Because we don't belong to anything official." "We're nothing at all." "So we just have the right to be shot from either side?" "Here we are: he understood!" "Pretty conspirator faces." "Oh, Mrs. Monrozier." "Ah, at your age!" "Climbing up all those floors is not good for your legs, is it?" "Well, the colonel is not all that young either." "We don't always have the age we look." "Goodbye, Mrs. Monrozier." "See you tomorrow." "Here, please read this, Mr. Fontenelle." "Mr. William Veslot invites Mr. Fontenelle of the Agence France Presse..." "Yes, I've got good friends at the Agence France Presse." "And I'm Fontenelle?" " Yes, who else?" "Obviously." "... to attend the party to be given..." "Now that you know his name, you must get hold of Mr. Veslot." "Contact him." "Know what he's thinking." " Yes." "The problem being that he already wanted to establish contact himself, in order to kill me!" "What did I tell you?" "And since then, thanks to me, he lost two of his men." "Valério and Popaul." "That will spice up your meeting." "And on top of that..." " What?" "Evening dress required." "Oh, yes, you'll have to dress as a socialite." "Won't that be funny?" "Call the boss on the phone and tell him that the Champagne is in full flow in our suspect's home." " OK." "Isn't he handsome?" " Well..." "Do you know him?" " His face is familiar." "Excuse me, sir, I think I know you but I can't remember where we met." "What are you doing here?" "I was sure we knew each other." "Where have I seen you before?" "What are you doing here?" " Oh, I know," "I know." "Last year in Central Africa." "I was hunting gorillas." "Very funny." " Sir?" "Excuse me, sir, I don't know anybody here." "Who's Mr. Veslot." "I'm Jacques Fontenelle, from the Agence France Presse." "What do you want?" " To be introduced to Mr. Veslot." "I'll tell him." "No, no, just a little bit..." " Sorry." "What was that again?" " A Mr. Fontenelle." "Agence France Presse." "Was he on the guests list?" "Fontenelle, you say?" "What does he want?" " To be introduced to you." "The AFP is important." "Bring him to me." "I'll take you to Mr. Veslot." "I'll be charmed to meet him." "In the flesh." "Mr. Fontenelle?" "To what do I owe the honour?" "Professional curiosity." "I don't know if this is the right time for your professional curiosity." "This is an intimate party." "You have a lot of intimate acquaintances." "Yes, in politics, we do have a lot of friends." "Would you like me to introduce you?" "There are..." "No." "I came to see you, just you." "Why?" "Could it be that I'm now a Parisian personality?" "Do we ever know why we suddenly end up on the front pages?" "Social events are usually on page four." "Or am I wrong?" "The reason for my visit is front page stuff." "Oh?" "Would I be involved is some scandal?" " No." "Nothing of the kind." "It's about foreign currency smuggling." "Currency smuggling?" "What do you mean, Mr. Fontenelle?" "I'm investigating for my newspaper important diplomatic personalities." "What would be, according to you, Mr. Veslot, the best way to foil currency trafficking?" "I can see several." "Cancelling customs barriers." "Free-trade." "A common currency." "And so on..." "So, according to you, the evil must be cut off at its base?" "Mr. Veslot?" "Please excuse me." "The marchioness wants you on the phone." "She's determined to apologize personally to you for not being here." "I'm coming." "Please excuse me." "I forbade you to come here." " I definitely had to warn you." "The Buick was found." "And the two men?" " No sign of them." "They can't have been tricked by this friend of Casa's, can they?" "They were specialists." "Where's the Buick?" "Well, just outside your front door." " What?" "That's why I came up: to tell you." "So someone saw a connexion between the Grand Daim and this place." "This is very annoying, Léon." "And that someone would be Casa's friend?" "I'm afraid so." " We'd better find him." "He's here." " Who?" "The Gorilla." "Mister Veslot, I'd love to see you alone, so we could talk about those problems more quietly." "I think I've told you enough, mister Fontenelle." "I hate being questioned." "I hate being alone with anybody." "And I especially hate being intruded upon, even by people who own a press card." "Please understand that our relation stops right here." "Good evening." "I, on the contrary, loved this discussion." "I respectfully salute you." "Oh, I was about to forget." "Your car was stolen, wasn't it?" "A black Buick?" ":" "I found it and brought it back." "It's parked outside your door." "Good evening, sir." "What shall we do?" "I'll phone the boss about this." " No, I'll do it myself." "What's this about a car?" "A Buick?" "What the hell did you tell him?" "I had to needle him a little, didn't I?" "Did you have me come to your hole to tell me that?" "Oh, if you'd rather rent an appartment in the Ritz for me?" "No, come on, why did you tell him about the Buick?" "To be a wise guy?" "You're completely lacking stature." " What?" "Yes." "You asked me to establish contact and I did." "In a big way!" "I gave the willies to that Mr. Veslot of yours." "And if ever I've got a proposition for him, he won't think I'm a flunky, a two-bit smuggler, a clerk of illegality." "He'll think I'm a gentleman, if the word holds any meaning for you." "Come, you're going to get in the wardrobe and play the gigolo." "It will remind you of your youth." "There." "You can put that away." "I came as a friend." "If I wanted to arrest you, I wouldn't have come alone." "Why should I care about all this?" "My name is Blavet." "I'm from the DST." " DST agents are going to bed quite late." "You've escaped from Melun." "A currency smuggler." "Doesn't the Police deal with those kind of little things?" "Don't think I'm a fool, Mr. Paquet, I absolutely hate it." "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about." "You're a former paratrooper, with all the trappings." "Unable to adapt to civil life." "Heroes are tired." "So you smuggle foreign currencies." "Well, let's say you do." "Yes." "You're just coming from mister Veslot's home, a diplomat living in Neuilly." "Don't you?" "Say, the DST is Nostradamus." "You know everything." "Well, there's one thing we don't know." "It's whether you're a bastard or a fool." "How should I take it?" "In the note wads that you probably move for Mr. Veslot, microfilms are inserted." "Documents pertaining to the National Defense." "Either you don't know it and you're a fool, or you know and you're a bastard." "So?" "What shall we do?" "Well, we arrest you." "And since you're a glorious officer, you'll face a war council, the "turnstile"." "And twelve bullets at dawn." " A charming perspective." "But why don't you arrest Veslot?" "There might be another solution." "Are you leaving so soon?" " Yes." "I leave you to think about this." "Either you bring me the proof we need against Veslot, in the interest of the nation and yours, or... the Mont Valérien." "At dawn." "Yes, it's worth thinking about." "Good evening, mister Paquet." "So you think this is funny?" " Now, you're really the ideal spook." "Veslot on one side, the police on the other side." "Sandwiched between a raised gun and the rising sun." "Well there's only one way to get out of this mess:" "you must work for the DST." " Always the funny guy." "Maybe there's another way." "If Veslot swallows this particular hook." "What is that?" "First quality." "Atomic energy." "Directly out of the Saclay factories." "I hope it looks authentic." " It was authentic two weeks ago." "It was too expensive a device, we had to abandon it." "But it's stuffed with authenticity and will withstand any check." "Now, if this isn't calculus..." " You're going to offer it to Veslot." "If he's interested, we'll follow the usual course." "But you're forgetting a small detail." "Oh, the tiniest detail, mind you." "The first time Veslot sees me on the open ground, he'll shoot me like a rabbit." "Didn't you say that you gave him the willies?" "That he thought you were a gentleman?" "And a good thing it is." "Because your small currency smuggler offering atomic energy to Mister Veslot..." "Not very believable." "But I... gave him stature." " What do you want?" "Compliments?" "No." "A piece of advice." " Advice?" "To renew contact with Mister Veslot." "That's your job, old sport." "You'll have to manage." "I've managed already." "Do you think it might interest him?" " If it's real, yes." "It's pure stuff." "Saclay 1957, a great vintage." "There's only half of it." "So what?" "What's the usual way?" "You'll get the other half afterwards." "You've got nice acquaintances for a currency smuggler." "I'm eclectic." " What do you mean by that?" "I mean that I also have acquaintances among... atomic personalities." "So, will you phone your boss or won't you?" "Would you fetch my lipstick, big bunny?" "I left it in the bedroom." "I feel naked without my lipstick." " Right." "When you mention your lipstick, there's going to be a fire." "What now?" "The seduction trick?" "And only for the third time." "No, the first time, I was ordered to do it." "The second time was because I lacked a position." "Now, it's for pleasure." "Did you find a position?" " Exactly." "And what's the name of your position?" "Léon or Combinat?" "The Grand Daim." "This is my place now." "Did Casa will it to you before he lay in his grave?" "I'm the one who's lying." " With whom?" "Take a wild guess." " Oh?" "The boss' car will be here in ten minutes." " A black Buick maybe." "Certainly." " The one he sends for special occasions." "Here." "May I?" " Hey!" "You're welcome." "Easy, baby, easy..." "I'm enchanted that you're willing to give me now the additional information you refused me last night." "Well, my dear, you came back with quite a selling point." "Jacques!" "Whisky." "Let's rather say that I reversed the situation." "Last night, I was asking for information." "Today, I'm bringing you some." "Mine was free." "I suppose yours..." " You suppose right." "Each delivery will cost you 500.000 F." " You're quite expensive." "Well, you know, anything made with uranium or plutonium always costs a lot of money." "The raw material is expensive." "Let's see if the goods are worth the price." "The best vintage." "Of course, this is only a sample?" "I'll have to forge an opinion about this." "Careful?" " No, professional." "One of my friends is here." "A nuclear scientist." "You've got the means to hire a nuclear scientist as well as a chauffeur or a maître d'?" "I've got lots of means, Mr. Paquet." "I could even have you disappear without leaving a trace." "If the friend who's a refugee here says your documents are phony." "Have me disappear without leaving a trace..." "Exactly." "I would be surprised." "I'm not an easy man to digest." "Let's suppose I came here to kill you, Mr. Veslot... nobody could prevent it." "I just have to press on this blade for you to fall down." "But I didn't come for that, Mr. Veslot." "I came to discuss business." "And since my offer interest you..." "this dagger is yours." "You've got a very neat routine, Mr. Paquet." "I extend my compliments to you." "A connoisseur's opinion." "I'm flattered." "I owe you an apology, Mr. Paquet." "At first, I didn't believe your story about nuclear documents, but my friend just told me your plans are absolutely genuine." "I told you." "Saclay, 1957." "The best year." "You just proved your good faith." "We don't have to fight each other anymore." "Especially since the score is two on each side." "Two on each side?" "Yes." "You offed Baudrel and Mauricet." "I offed Valério and Popaul." "We're even." "Except for a detail." "I owe you 500.000 F for this first delivery." "Yes, I was about to forget." " I wasn't." "You went too far, Mr. Paquet." "Atomic energy is too strong for me." "And you're too strong for me too." "When a small time currency smuggler has in his possession genuine documents like these," "I get very worried indeed, Mr. Paquet." "Very worried." "To the point that I entertain doubts about your true identity." "Which will force me to ask you a few questions." "Come on, tell me everything." "The story of the black Buick with Valério and Popaul." "And especially the story of the nuclear file." "Why did you bring it to me?" "What do you know about me?" "Stop it, Cébu." "Combinat!" "Take over." "Are you Popaul's mother?" "Yes, I am." "Wasn't he working for you?" "Did he write to you?" " Yes, sir." "Where's the letter coming from?" "Prison of "La Santé" He says that, for the money, I just have to go to Saint Denis and ask you." "I'm more and more convinced that you're not a currency smuggler, Mr. Paquet." "Here's the proof." "Do you hear, Cébu?" "He gave your pal Popaul to the cops." "I heard." "With this, he'll tell it all." "No, not now, he's too exhausted." "Too much hurt numbs the body." "After a good night, he'll be as good as new." "Don't do anything before I come back." "I'll be here at eleven." "Good night, Mister Paquet." "I've already been wished that." " By whom?" "By a cop." "What's with you, Cébu?" "Are you nuts?" "The boss said..." " To hell with the boss!" "With this, I'll make him talk." "And right now." "Oh, the gentleman wants to avenge his mate." "With this, you're going to talk." "Hello?" "DST, get me inspector Blavet." "It's an emergency." "Yes, several shots." "Congratulations, you'll get a medal." "Well, well..." "The Veslot case." "It's done." "The clever bloke erred at last." "A phone company employee..." "Your employee?" " Yes." "He just called me." "Shots were heard in Veslot's place, in Saint-Denis." "Of course, for you, shots mean a corpse." "A corpse allows us to start an investigation." "While searching Veslot's place, you'll find evidence, and, based on that evidence, you'll arrest Veslot." "And all the gang." " Including the Gorilla." "Well, my dear chap, do your job." "And good luck." "Get me the Old Man!" "Er..." "Hello?" "No, I mean colonel Berthomieux." "No, stop it, go, leave me..." "Mercurochrome, band aid, compress, camphor balm..." "I don't care about the drugs." "This is far more interesting." "Wait, old timer." "Did you cook me salt pork?" "And with lentils?" "I thought you'd like it." "You ate at the restaurant a lot, these last days." "Go away, old timer." " Ouch." "What bullshit!" "Ouch!" "Did I hurt you?" "Can I make it better?" "Did Isolene kiss you like that?" "I hate that kind of joke." " So do I, as you can imagine." "And I hate being followed." "Especially to Veslot's place." "I meet you in every place Veslot owns." "In Neuilly, in his country home." "What are you?" "In love with him?" "Come on, we're doing the same job." "It's just like you with Isolene." "The very same thing." "The same racket." "I forbid you to speak like this, Chaboute." " Yeah?" "Well, right now, I give the orders." "Come on: eat!" "Mmmm." "What did you take?" " Nothing." "Sympathyl." "Are your nerves sore?" " Yes, they are." "Because of me?" "Yes, because of you." "Can you believe it?" "Still Isolene?" "I fired a whole clip, last night." "I wonder why." " To save you, dummy!" "Oh, God, this is great!" "Say, Géo?" "I didn't kill Cébu, did I?" "Oh, she's at it again." "I told you at least twenty times:" "you're too much of a lousy shot." "It would have been too good." "Oh, maybe this is Isolene." "You never know." "Come in!" "The Old Man's here." "He doesn't seem happy." "That's his turn not to be." "So how's the cripple?" "What strange furniture!" "Does one sit on this?" "Try it, colonel." "Strange." "A curious pipe." "A curious ashtray." "So, cripple?" "Don't you say anything?" "I'm eating." "That is, if you don't mind." "Oh, I know, you're making yourself comfortable." "Now you go as far as shooting." " Yes, I shoot." "So what?" "So you shot too early." "Now we're done for." "The DST has a corpse and won't let go of it." " Cébu?" "He's dead?" "Look, we're not going to cry over the corpse of a bad guy, are we?" "The corpse of a bad guy is still a corpse." "And let me tell you that this one attracts flies." "I didn't have to time to embalm it." " Stop it, Géo." "I killed Cébu." "And when he died, Géo was in no condition to think about anything." "You disobeyed me, little Chaboute." " And a good thing I did." "One minute later and Géo was a dead man." "I know." "The dead and the living are all the same to you, just service numbers." "You write them down, then you scratch them." "But for me, colonel, Géo is not a service number." "He's my man." " I know." "I know." "That's why I prefer my agents to be single." "Well, when they're not, you've got to deal with it, don't you?" "I might deal with it, but the secret services..." "The hell with the secret services." "Come on, aren't forgetting that you're part of the secret services?" "Well, yesterday, at some point, I wasn't anymore." "When I saw a blowtorch about to burn Géo's eyes, I wasn't anymore at all!" "I forgot everything." "All of your stories, your Veslot, your BK7, your Russians, your secrets..." "I had a gun in my hand and I fired it." "And if you care to know, I'm not at all happy that I killed Cébu." "But for you, colonel, only one thing matters: the reason of State." "You shouldn't have married him, kid." "Say, I'd venture you don't often read love stories." "So, you broken hearts, did you find a solution to get us out of this mess?" "Yes, but it's your move now." "I need at least 24 hours." "Just 24 hours?" "You don't doubt anything, do you?" "You know perfectly well that I need at least 24 hours to get to the bottom of what you asked me." "But if you ask for just 24 hours, does it mean that you intend to strike hard?" "Watch it, Géo." "Although you're part of my services, and although you've taken up bad habits," "Paris is no shooting range." "I never said I would shoot myself." "But I can tell you that things are going to blow up everywhere anyway." "So you're going to arrest Veslot?" " Yes." "When?" " Tonight." "Tomorrow night." " Impossible." "Oh?" "Disappointing." "Disappointing." "I thought you were more... more subtle, my dear director." "Oh, come on, come on..." "An arrested Veslot is a mute Veslot, an inactive Veslot." "How, then, do you expect to find the trail of the Embassy?" "What?" "Isn't it interesting to put Veslot behind bars?" "And what will you do with him?" "He's been stealing your things, your BK7, but you know it!" "What you don't know is for which Embassy he does." "And you'll never know it if you arrest him, because you're going to break the network." "So?" "Will you give me my 24 hours?" "No." "Because I know you:" "if I leave you Veslot for 24 hours, you're going to damage him." "And what if I damage him a little?" "That's the point." "I,the DST, the legal police, can't let anybody damage a spy." "And you know it well." "I don't have your means:" "I just have to arrest him." "And a great deal of good it will do you." "Absolutely." "With Veslot arrested, I win some time." "I annoy the Embassy." "Which you still don't know." "Yes, but I break the network." "I repeat:" "I win some time." "You just win the time that it will take the Embassy to reorganize." "Then, everything will start all over again." "Anyway, that's exactly what's going to happen, colonel." "Veslot will be officially arrested tonight and nobody will prevent me from doing it." "Will they?" "Oh, do you say that for me?" "Of course it's for me." "What about Géo Paquet?" " Oh, that man!" "I respect him a lot, but please:" "since this case started, I feign to ignore who he is." "The phony escape, his currency smuggling..." "Because of him, every day, several times a day, I look like a fool." "So, please give him the order to leave me alone!" "We're on national territory, the SR must bow to the DST." "No, this case was discovered abroad and taken up in France by Géo Paquet." "It's ours." "I don't care about the past." "Right now, I know only one thing." "National territory equals DST." "Call back Géo Paquet." "Very Well." "We caught Veslot." "We won't catch the Embassy." "A sloppy job." "Let's stay legal." " That's it, colonel." "Let's stay legal." "Would you allow me to make a small phone call?" "Please do." "So?" "No 24 hours?" "No, I'm sorry, colonel." "I'm the official counter-spying police:" "I must stay within the law." "Hello?" "Hello, Géo Paquet?" " So?" "Hi, old chap." "I've got bad news for you." "According to a request by Mr. Riard, the director of the DST, who's with me right now," "I regret to inform you that you no longer belong to my services." "But..." "I never requested that." "No, but I know him: he's a strange guy" "With him, it's all or nothing at all." "Good evening!" "Arrest Géo Paquet now!" " At last!" "What does it mean?" " It means I'm going underground." "Has the Old Man gone crazy?" "He's more clever than ever." "He's just warned me that he couldn't move Riard," "Veslot is going to be arrested, so he's giving me a free hand." "It means that from now on, if you shoot, you're a common criminal." "It also means I've got to get out of here fast." "You're being overzealous." "Nobody asks you this much." "Well, for once, you're wrong." "This time, I'm not thinking only of Veslot." "Who are you thinking of?" "The Embassy?" "That too." "But mostly I'm thinking of you." " Me?" "Because I shot Cébu?" "Yes." "And when I stop the Veslot case, I'll also stop the Cébu case." "When shall I see you again?" "As the Old Man says:" "when every legal action is over." "Didn't he sing yet?" " He won't." "Go and watch around." "From now on, we also have the fuzz on our backs." "The fuzz?" " Yes." "I warned you, didn't I?" "So he won't speak?" "So you won't speak?" " Screw you!" "Don't yell like that, somebody's bound to hear." "You want him to speak and you gag him." "I fail to understand." "Don't worry." "When he wants to, he'll give me a sign." "Will you do as I say, now?" "Come on, Géo, you're not going to..." " Will you scram and let me work?" "You scum!" "Yesterday you were striking me lower that that, didn't you?" "Bastard!" "It may not be as efficient as a blowtorch, but you'll see: it's just as funny." "You bastard!" "Come on!" "Tell me where your boss is!" "If you don't, the cops will arrest him." "Come on, spill it!" "Where is he this morning?" "You must know, since you're a letterbox." "He's in Saint-Honoré d'Eyleau" " Are you pulling my leg?" "No!" "I swear!" "For the funeral of an official." "Cébu is dead." " Did you kill him?" "And I left his corpse at your place." " So?" "I came to warn you that the DST were also at your place, and very interested in Cébu's corpse indeed." "Did you call them?" " Of course." "Might I know why?" "Your diplomatic immunity is over, mister Veslot." "The DST were only waiting for a good reason to search your place, and they've got it." "I'll file a complaint for the murder of my secretary." "This crime will not benefit anybody." "You're forgetting about the nuclear file I brought you yesterday." "Who do you think I am?" "I had it disappear." "You're overconfident." "Before I left Saint-Denis, I put the other half of the file in plain sight, so I'm sure you'll be charged with spying." "Well, I'll go to jail." " It's likely." "Is the organ music moving you?" "You just spontaneously confessed what I was asking rather insistantly yesterday." "Because today, I'm working on my own." "And what does your work consist of?" "In having your hide." "Requiem for a spy." "If you get out of this church alive, if the DST puts you in jail before I can kill you, in Fresnes, in Clerveaux, or in La Santé, wherever you'll be, the guard who'll bring your plate" "will be one of my men and will execute you." "What if I didn't go to jail?" "When you take a cab, look closely at the driver" "When you walk in the street, beware of the people around you" "Everywhere, anytime, whatever you do, Veslot, beware." "Now, you're a goner." "Good morning, mister Louis." " Hi, Paulo." "Good Morning, Mariette." " Good morning, mister Louis." "Are you alright?" " Yes." "Give me a telephone token." "Your friends are there, in the pool room." "Hope they're not naughty." "Are they nice?" "Sure." " Good." "A friendly match?" "Yeah." "Is it OK?" "Did you see the boss?" "I'm asking the questions." "Now the two of us will resume our talk." "Don't bother." "He's got things to tell us." "Oh?" "Did you become reasonable?" " I'm always reasonable." "Your pal Berthier informed me." "You're holding all the aces, so..." " So?" "So I'm not married to Veslot nor to the Embassy." "No, you're married to dough." "I'm getting to it." " Oh?" "Say, in your opinion, how much is the Embassy's phone number worth?" "Baudrel, Mauricet, accessory to murder..." "Twenty years with no suspension." "OK, then I give you the number and..." "And?" " And you get me the suspension." "Isn't there a small tip?" "When you're in preventive detention, I'll bring you oranges." "Don't like them." "You've got no choice anyway." "Come on." "Hello?" "The Esso gas station?" " One moment." "Who's the Esso gas station?" "The big boss?" "Why not the Ambassador?" " Who is it then?" "A middleman." "The buyer." "His name is Pallos." "Well, I wouldn't like my name to be Pallos today." "Hello?" "The Esso gas station?" " Yes." "I'm calling about the Buick." "Did you sell it?" "No." " Is that your contact?" "Repeat after me, then." ""The bill of sale must be written as soon as possible. "" "The bill of sale must be written as soon as possible." "The owner of the Buick just learned that a parent of his died." "He's forced to go abroad." "He's waiting to hear from you." "His grieving is so painful that he can't move around." "I repeat:" "He must go abroad and is waiting to hear from you." "I'll call you back if you agree." "I'll give you the address for the rendez-vous." "Mr. Smolen?" "I'd like to see you now!" "Come." "It's not in the papers yet?" "What's not in the papers yet, mister Pallos?" "I just had a phone call." " The Buick?" "Yes." "Veslot is going to be arrested." "No names, mister Pallos." "Are you out of your head?" "Did they say anything else?" "They did." "The owner of the Buick wants to go abroad." "Yes, indeed." "That person is perfectly right." "Suppose that this person gets into trouble." "Which seems likely." "That this person is put in the position to name witnesses." "For instance to name you, mister Pallos" "Do you realize?" "What shall we do?" "I think you're right:" "we must take him to our place." "Well, to your place, mister adviser." "On the other side of a good border." "Does you attaché still have his small plane in Toussus-le-Noble?" "He does, mister Smolen, he does." "Veslot is neither in Neuilly nor at the Grand Daim." "What about Isolene?" "Doesn't she have an appartment?" "No but Mr. Léon does." " So what are you waiting for?" "I'm waiting for you to tell me." " Go on." "You've already won the indulgence of the jury." "Hello?" " Yes." "This is the buyer for the Buick." "Yes, I got the Esso gas station." "Alright, this is outdated." "They know." "They're not interested in the car anymore." "Now, they need the plane." "Soon." "A good thing it is, because we're in a hurry too." "Can you pass it on?" " Yes, he's here, near me." "Alright, if you're interested in the deal, the rendez-vous is at 3 p. m." "Impasse Dantzig, 28." "Will there be a lot of people?" " No, just the buyer." "So you say: 3 p. m." "Impasse Dantzig, 28?" "Exactly." "What is the Impasse Dantzig, 28?" "None of your business." "Call the others, now." "Go on!" "Esso Garage, first line." "Yes. 3 p. m." "Impasse Dantzig, 28." "You'll be expected." "Just go to the Dantzig, the bar across the street." "The bloke who'll lead you will be wearing... a grey overcoat and a small green hat, the Tyrolean kind." "Fine." "We'll be there." "Say, the Tyrolean hat..." "That's me?" "Who did you think?" " This is madness!" "I won't do it." "I won't." " This is a risky job." "This is no risk, this is a sure thing." "Of course not." "Don't worry:" "I carefully built my little mechanism." "Now, call the Old Man." "He must obtain the red signal in Toussus and the Embassy must be told." "The red signal?" "No plane is allowed to take off." "None whatsoever." "So?" "So the accounts will be settled inside the family." "If I dare say." "I just had an idea, mister Pallos." "We can't let our friend leave for this country that he doesn't know." "Somebody should go with him." "Somebody that I trust implicitely." "Indeed." "You see, Mr. Pallos, the French have lost their romantic touch." "Once, in such a case, a man like him would have blown his brains out." "That's nice: to blow one's brains out." "That's very nice." "It's an image." "I'm sure that yourself, in such a case..." "The red signal is up in Toussus." "No plane can fly from Toussus-le-Noble anymore." "The red signal is up." "Well, you just have the time to get ready." "In order to be at 3 p. m." "in that bar, the Dantzig." "We'll replace the plane with something, mister Pallos." "Have a good trip, mister Pallos." "The Dantzig." "Impasse Dantzig." "And don't forget the jewels." "We're going on a trip." "For a long time." " Is it that bad?" "Yes indeed." "The Old Man." " So what?" "I had to invite him." "This is your cue:" "he must be your man." "Don't be afraid:" "you don't interest them." "They won't shoot you." "They've got better things to do before." "And after?" " After, you'll have to cope." "Go on." "A double brandy in a tall glass." "I'll do you a favour: you're going to wait for me in the cellar." "The cellar?" " Yes." "You wouldn't happen to have a corkscrew, would you?" "A corkscrew!" "Well, it's time." "Let's go." "Oh, here you are at last." " Hey, I needed some time." "That's clever." "That's clever." "A man of your talent!" "To pull such a trick, then, at the very last moment, to risk your hide in order to save what?" "Hey, I'm not in the right age bracket for gangsters' chicks." "You are." "D'Artagnan, is that it?" "Old French chivalry?" "She was not their accomplice, she was their hobby." "Come on!" "Every legal action over." "You got Veslot, the killer, the buyer." "You disgusted the Embassy." "Alright: now just vanish for a while." "And I should use the emergency stairs?" "Perfect." "Sorry." "I'm expecting a few friends." "Riard." "Blavet." "The DST." "Well... this whole thing is going to annoy them." "You know how they are." "Oh yes." "And I must say, my dear colonel, that I'm beginning to get tired of seeing you too." "The Gorilla salutes you!" "Oh!" "Oh, I definitely will never get used to this." "Shall we go home?" "Come!"