Atlanta Daily World

"you wouldn't expect me to say yes, would you, even if I did?" Raffaeli sat up to light a cigar. "But the truth is: I didn't. Nor do I now. My ships are chartered by all sorts of companies, governments, private people, or bought. How they use the tonnage is their affair, not mine."

Mark looked up from the pad on his knee to find Raffaeli's black eyes fastened on him attentively. "They also say that your political interests vary according to the money you make."

"Only a fool can afford to ignore politics. I have never been a fool. You can tell your readers that I am strictly right wing, old-fashioned, conservative, and intend to remain so. A capitalist who will defend capitalism to the end. People forget that progress in any field has been made possible only by money."

How difficult, how impossible almost, to size up a man you didn't know. Here was a strong personality, an enormously self-sufficient man, secure in the knowledge of his power. But how did he use this power? What goals did his intelligence reach? What passions influenced his decisions?

"What about the gossip that you live in fear of your life? The location of Sans Souci seems to verify it."

"An eagle likes to live alone on great heights," said Raffaeh. "Why don't you think of me as an eagle, Mr. Travers?"

"But is it the loneliness he prefers, or the better air, or the safety? Or, perhaps, the greater ease with which to swoop down on his prey?"

Very slowly Raffaeli took the cigar from between his lips. Then, instead of answering, he clapped his hands several times in quick succession. The next moment the front door burst open and out they came- boys and girls, tumbling over each other in their eagerness to reach their father.