These were the faces the Jackal studied at length on the writing bureau in his flat off South Audley Street.

Otherwise, Pastor Jensen was aged forty-eight, with grey hair and gold-rimmed glasses for reading Marty Schulberg was twenty-five, with chestnut-brown hair and heavy-rimmed executive glasses which he wore all the time. Both were around six feet tall, had broad shoulders and slim figures, blue eyes and a fairly close facial resemblance to the unobtrusive Englishman who had followed and robbed them. We don’t know where he is or what he is going to do. He wanted it this way and now he’s got it. One does not like to stand down an operation one has planned personally.’ ‘ Then for God’s sake recall him,’ protested Casson. It depends how confident he feels of his own planning.’ ‘ Do you think he has a chance now… now that this has happened?’ asked Casson. There’s a lot at stake, for all of us, including him. ‘He must get out of France as soon as he rings Valmy the first time.’ ‘In theory, yes,’ said Rodin thoughtfully. He will do that, but nothing else.’ ‘But the Jackal must realize of his own accord that it is all over,’ protested Montclair. His orders are to receive information from the girl and pass it on to the Jackal when he is telephoned.

‘Valmy does not have the authority to do that. ‘Valmy will order him.’ Rodin shook his head. There’s a good chance he will be forewarned if he rings Valmy, and then he’ll be able to get out again.’ ‘If he rings Valmy he will, of course, be ordered to drop the operation,’ said Montclair.

Day of the jackal author