estion anything. Orders
from--you know."

Only minutes ahead of the new Volonsky, Cletus had entered the lobby
of the Droshky Hotel on Red Square. The cherubic scout had obeyed
orders and made himself bellhop size, large size. He didn't exactly
resemble the one in the cigarette ad but he had the kid's twinkle in
his dark eyes. And he had already latched onto a luscious blonde; or,
more likely, Nick concluded, the reverse.

Having just registered as a Persian prince, Cletus again clanked down
a large sack of gold pieces and a smaller one of jewels. "Put these
diamonds and rubies into your best safe," he ordered in perfect
Russian.

The clerk's eyes began popping, so did the blonde's and those of a
score of spectators, including four hard-faced MVD boys.

"And I'll take care of you, Honey-Navi," the blonde said.

"Ah, you just love me for my two billion dollars," the imp retorted,
and winked at her. As did Nick, Cletus could plainly see the twist
operated on the MVD payroll as well as in her own interests.

"I'm selling out my fifty oil wells," he announced, "and I've come to
town to see the head man, whoever he is today. I thought I'd let you
dumb _mujiks_ bid for the wells before I practically give them to
Super-San Oil company for a measly two hundred million dollars."

"Of course, Prince Navi," the clerk said loudly. He nodded toward the
four tough lads who, likewise, had not yet noticed the great Volonsky.

Nick rapped on the counter with his six-carat diamond ring. "How about
a little service here, comrade?"

"One moment, comrade," the clerk said nervously.

"What you mean, one moment?" Nick roared. "I haven't flown all the way
from New York to have a two-bit clerk tell me to wait. I represent
Super-San Oil and I'm here to meet a Persian Prince Navi."

"Quiet, Amerikaner, till--Oh, Your Excellency Comrade Vychy Volonsky!"
The mouth of the astonished clerk fell open. Then, fearful of making a
wrong move in the Red game of dirty politics, he failed to guess why
the great one should act as a miserable capitalist. "A thousand
pardons, Your Excellency Comrade. What can I do for the beloved
comrade? I didn't recognize you--"

"Hush, fool!" Nick looked toward Cletus just then gazing into the
blonde's blue eyes.

The four MVD agents went into a quick huddle, then the one with a
broken nose bowed to the fake Volonsky. "If Your Excellency Comrade
will step aside with us, we'll explain this fool's mistake."