The lieutenant left. Madame Ariane remained where she was, as if she needed the chair to support her after what she had heard that evening. Sabine’s interest was quickened by the long silence. They could not see the major, who was standing almost directly below them. Then his heels sounded on the flagstones as he moved slowly forward. When he was a step from Madame Ariane, he put out his real hand and placed it on the back of her neck. Suzie could see that he was gripping the column of flesh, pressing his thumb and forefinger on either side, below her ears. He moved even closer so that he stood at right angles to her and spoke into her ear. Suzie could barely make out the words.

‘So, what have you to tell me today?’

Madame Ariane spoke loudly. ‘Nothing, there’s nothing …’

‘I’ve been watching you.’

Madame Ariane tried to move away, but like a metal bar his false arm closed in front of her.

‘Let me go,’ she begged.

‘Tell me what you know.’

He had forced her to face him. His hand was now around the front of her neck, caressing it under her ears. Suzie saw the fingers tighten and Madame Ariane’s head tip back. Suddenly he let go and she stepped away, unsteadily, stumbling.

Her voice was clear. ‘Longas,’ she said. ‘I’ve heard there will be a demonstration …’

‘Good, good. When?’

‘I don’t know …’

‘When?’

‘The day after tomorrow. The fourteenth.’

‘Good. Don’t move.’

Madame Ariane ignored him and, breaking free, walked round him to the garden door. Just before she reached it, she stopped and said rapidly, ‘Be careful. It could be an ambush.’

Sabine could hardly contain her impatience until they reached the safety of their own territory.

‘You see, I was right. He put his arms around her. That only means one thing.’

She stripped off her cardigan, then her dress, leaving both of them draped inside out over the end of the bed. Suzie reached behind her back to undo the buttons of her dress.

‘He was bullying her,’ she said, almost in a whisper. As you do me, she might have added.

Sabine’s anger shifted from Madame Ariane. ‘Why are you always on her side? Why don’t you agree with me? You always contradict me.’

She emerged from the enveloping folds of her nightdress, thrusting her arms into the sleeves, her head poking out last. Suzie had unthreaded one arm from her dress. Sabine grasped it with both hands. Suzie was not going to make matters worse by contradicting this statement, however false it was. She allowed her wrist to lie limply in Sabine’s grip, which tightened painfully, grinding the bones together.

‘You’re a traitor too. And if you like her and them so much, I’ll tell them who you are.’

Suzie emitted no protests. Sabine had not asked what had been said after dinner, and Suzie herself had had no time to reflect on what she had learned. Once they were in bed, Sabine fell asleep immediately, while Suzie lay with her back to her, gazing at the luminous rectangle of the unshuttered window. Her thoughts scurried to and fro between the terrible messages that had been conveyed to her that evening.