Screen Stories – Jul 1966
MODESTY BLAISE
Who but Modesty could save the sheik’s rare jewels? Sir Gerald begged her to take the dangerous assignment.
Gabriel’s men caught Modesty and agent Paul napping. Forced, she had to summon Willie into Gabriel’s trap.
The dashing Willie was busy renewing an old friendship with Nicole but he dropped all to answer Modesty’s call.
As a last grim resort, the Government called in Modesty Blaise.
Their best man on the case had been booby-trapped and blown to scraps in Amsterdam. Yet, to protect valuable oil concessions, their gift of diamonds had to get through to the Sheik of Masara. So they had decided to set a thief to catch a thief. Who but Modesty could outsmart the unknown criminal who was after the gems?
Secret Service chief Sir Gerald Tarrant intercepted the famous adventuress between acts at Covent Garden, where she was attending a ballet with a handsome escort. A stunning figure with curves such as grow only on the heroine of a comic strip, Modesty was disinterested in Tarrant’s proposition.
But Sir Gerald knew just how to play on her pride by hinting she might not be up to the job. So in the end, vanity piqued, Modesty found herself at Whitehall being briefed on the diamond shipment. The British Minister showed her films of the Kingdom of Masara and of Sheik Abu Tahir. But it turned out that Modesty already knew both the men and the country well. On one of her earlier adventures, Abu Tahir had actually adopted her as his son.
“Two missing and three dead already,” the Minister warned her. “Whoever is after our fifty million pounds in diamonds is ruthless and resourceful.”
“You want me to deliver the diamonds?” Modesty probed.
“We’ll see to that. We want you to protect the shipment-by finding out, with your connections, who is after it.”
“If I help you,” she asked, “you will trust me completely?”
“Of course,” she was assured. “Naturally, Miss Blaise.”
” Then, I will take my fee in Swiss francs, in advance. And I want Willie Garvin. In fact, I won’t do it without Willie.” A simple phone call located Willie. Her partner…
