"You scored a great success tonight," he commented. "My congratulations."
"Nevertheless," said the woman, "I am troubled. My position is not what it used to be. The suspicions that arose during the Great War* still linger. They are constantly watching and spying on me."
"However, you have never been accused of espionage, have you?"
"Our leader, when making his plans, is always very careful to prevent such a thing from happening."
"Long live the 'Colonel'," said the count, smiling. "Terrible news that he intends to retire! Imagine, to retire! As if he were some doctor, butcher, or plumber..."
"Or any other businessman," Nadina finished his sentence. "We shouldn't be surprised. That was always the 'Colonel'—an extremely capable businessman. He organizes crimes as someone else would organize a shoe factory. Without exposing himself, he plans and directs a series of spectacular coups, involving every branch of his so-called... profession: jewel thefts, forgeries, espionage (the latter especially lucrative in times of war), sabotage, discreet murders—there is nothing he hasn't been involved in. And when the game starts to get dangerous, he withdraws with dignity, having increased his vast fortune!"
"Hmm!" said the count skeptically. "It's somewhat... unsettling for all of us. Why are we idling, so to speak, since we have no specific assignment?"
"At least we are compensated... and handsomely so!"
