13 Alphonse Street was knocked late at night by a decent gentleman dressed. A minute later, he was called out from behind.
- Hello, Racine.
- Eric? Is that you?
- I suppose you were expecting to see Eric, otherwise, it wouldn't be wise to take a walk at this time.
- I hope you're not trying to kill me to steal my wallet. - the head of the second bureau, Eugene Racine, grinned.
- You taught me that extreme measures are only used in extreme circumstances," the answer was heard. - Let's go for a walk. And let go of your stompers - your eyes are blistering.
- Have you forgotten how to work? - Racine hummed and whistled for a long time. Two men came out of the shadows in the niche. The chief of intelligence said something quietly to the spies, and they left. - Shall we go?
In response, his companion only nodded. Satellites came down to the Seine, crossed the bridge and slowly walked along the Passy embankment. Racine was the first to break the silence.
- I heard a rumor that you returned to France and you need help.
- There are rumors going on for a long time, Racine... Six months passed, after all. When Eric really needed help, he had to do it on his own. And now... I think if you're thinking about Eric, you need help.
- Eric, there's a Shah's counterintelligence behind you. Prince Ahmed personally arrived in Paris.
- Prince Ahmed? Do not take him into account, Racine. This immeasurable fool helped me escape after the failure, which was an inevitable consequence of your Massin's prank. As far as I know, the shah sent the prince to "keep Eric under control"; in fact, Ahmed was simply sent into honorable exile to make room for his brother. The prince has been out of the game for a long time, though he thinks he is protecting the world from me - a genius, a freak and a madman. Freak and madman! Take your clothes off, Racine! For twenty years I've been playing freak and madman because of your fault! I could have been the greatest artist and architect in the world - if it wasn't for your cursed experiment to change your appearance!
- But you agreed to it yourself.
- What was I supposed to do? There was no other way to hide from the Archduke's people who were hungry for blood, and it was stupid to die heroically if you could win by staying alive, wasn't there?
- Eric, this time it's so easy for you not to leave.
- Eric is not going to run away. By the way, Racine, if you or Massena try to take Eric out - say, with the hands of the Persians - a couple of days after his sudden death, the Emperor's desk will be packed. Inside will be copies of documents that prove Massen's guilt in the failure of the agent network in Persia. And the fact that you approved the operation plan, ignoring Eric's warning. Editors of all our and foreign newspapers will also receive similar packages.
- This is treason! You swore an oath!
- The oath? I swore an oath not to the second bureau and not to you personally, Racine, but to France. France will only benefit from the fact that there will be fewer people like Massen in the bureau.
Barely holding back his anger, Racine ran out of steam:
- You are the devil in the flesh, Eric!
- Ha ha haha! You made Eric a devil yourself, Racine. For twenty years Eric worked for you: in Austria-Hungary, in Russia, in Persia! My wife died in childbirth, and my child died - and I was not even there. My mother died of grief shortly afterward, and I could not even say goodbye to her. Three times your people's clumsy actions put Eric on the brink of failure in Russia, and he barely took his legs out of Persia. And what did Eric get in return for his service? He was written off without a pension. Racine, you knew very well that I was back, and you hadn't even lifted a finger until now. And you're still talking about the oath?
- But Eric...
- Racine, I've listened to you enough. Now it's your turn. The Persian bureau network has failed completely. Is that right?
- Yes," the chief of intelligence answered frowningly. - You're right. I need your advice. Eric, you know the Shah's yard. Who can we rely on at first?
- I think the situation in Persia has changed: Ahmed's successor has placed his people everywhere. I can't give you much advice.
- Eric, you said that you swore an oath to France. Think about what the French are expecting in the Middle East if the British take the upper hand in Persia?
For a few minutes, the men walked in silence. Finally, the man called Eric broke the silence:
- Good. I guessed how the attempt to penetrate into the surroundings of the Khanum will end and I took measures in advance. I created a second, deeply guarded network.
- Deeply conjugated?
- And controlled by me personally. I am ready to hand over my agents to you, but under two conditions: first, the bureau will leave me alone once and for all.
- Okay.
- Secondly, I need money, Racine.
- How much?
- Five million.
- HOW LONG?
- Five million, and not a single centimeter less. Otherwise, the new Opera will not be completed, but I am interested in this building decorating Paris.
- So it is you? Have you designed the new opera?
- In away. Eric just helped Charles Garnier with the project. As you can see, after his return, Eric had to go back to architecture - he had to live on something.
- But five million, Eric! The second bureau doesn't have that kind of money!
- But the bureau has connections and influence. Don't you have anything to press on the representatives of the human race who have settled in the government and the Ministry of Fine Arts?
- Well," said the chief of intelligence after a long silence, "I will provide funding for the construction. When will I get the network?
- As soon as the money reaches the account of the construction company. Goodbye, Racine.
Once he was used to checking to see if he was tailed, Eric went home. So," he thought, "the first round is mine. Racine will get the money, at least some of it, but they won't leave me alone. So, we need to hide. Perhaps even get married, buy a house and live a century with his wife and orange kids. And also for the first time, you need a reserve base. Hmm, what if we built a shelter at the expense of the bureau and hid in the new Opera House - in full view? Crazy idea? But Erica is already considered insane by everyone, and another crazy thing won't make it any worse. So, it's decided: I'll make changes to the project and create a great house on the shores of an underground lake - for starters. And then I will fix the face as much as possible and find a house on the surface and a wife. And also need to outlive the habit acquired over twenty years of playing madman: talk about yourself in the third person. Otherwise, you can really go mad.
With this thought, Eric opened the door and entered the rented apartment. He had a lot to do, a lot to do...
...Eugene Racine called the secretary back to his office.
- A cartridge?
- Rocar, I talked to Eric. He agrees to help.
The secretary sighed lightly.
- It's a hell of a lot to take in, isn't it? - Racine smiled. - Rocar, prepare Eric's retirement papers for life. Does he have anybody else but his daughter?
- No, the bullet. By the way, Christina's first adopter, violinist Gustav Daaahe, died. Now the girl is brought up by Professor Valerius.
- What does she do?
- As far as I know, she learns to sing, patron.
- Well, make sure that Christine Daaaee enters the conservatory at the expense of the state. The bureau should not be in debt to anyone.
- Yes, I do, patron.
- And also, Rocar. Massena doesn't have to know about it.
- Yes, sir.
When the door closed for the secretary, the chief of intelligence came to the window and thought: "We will have to provide funding for the construction of the Opera House. But Eric's meeting with his daughter should be postponed for now. The girl may still be useful to me. By the way, I need to send Massen to the construction site - after Rocar tells him everything, no one will keep an eye on Eric..."
The city woke up outside the window. Paris morning promised to be gloomy.
