“I would like to know why she no longer works for the Brigadier,” said Tadeo. “And who she is working for now.”

“Good boy,” said Torgos. “Will you answer those questions first?”

“As to the first—I lost many friends and was betrayed by others,” said Sparks. “I was tired of it all. The current battle doesn’t interest me.”

“And the second?”

“No more. We have to agree before I continue.”

“The problem, Miss Sparks, is that not knowing the answer to that question means I cannot trust anything you say. If you still worked for the Brigadier, I would be able to weigh your responses accordingly. But now that you’ve gone rogue—”

“I most certainly have not.”

“And given that you are a superb liar—”

“Now you’re making me blush.”

“I cannot assess the value of what you provide,” he concluded.

“May I propose a solution?”

“Certainly.”

“As you are quite capable of evaluating someone who has not had our professional training, I suggest that you ask Mrs. Bainbridge to join us. She will answer your questions adequately, and she is a civilian and an amateur. I will remain in here as a token of good faith until you have retrieved her.”

“Who is Mrs. Bainbridge?”

“My partner at The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, as well as in this investigation. She’s at the reception as we speak.”

“Do you know this woman?” Torgos asked his son.

“I have never heard of her,” said Tadeo.

“Neither have I,” said Torgos. “Which speaks well for her not being of our community. Very well. Describe her to me.”

“Tall, blond, wearing a blue frock and a matching bolero,” said Sparks.

“I will go find her,” said Torgos to his son. “You stay with Miss Sparks.”

“Yes, Father,” said Tadeo.

“And if I am not back in ten minutes, strangle her.”

“Yes, Father,” said Tadeo, producing an automatic of his own.

Torgos made a slight bow to Sparks, then left the room. Sparks sat on the edge of the table and glanced at Tadeo.

“Tell me,” she said. “Are you single?”

“Well, we barely survived that one,” gasped Mrs. Bainbridge as they headed back to their table. “They should give a warning for the quickstep. Sound an air raid siren or something.”

“You were splendid,” said Palfrey.

“I was hanging on to you for dear life, Captain.”

“I enjoyed that part of the experience the most.”

“The next time I hear the introduction to ‘Anything Goes,’ I will run for the nearest bomb shelter. Oh, hello!”

An older Greek gentleman was standing in front of her, holding out his hand.

“Madam,” he said. “May I have the pleasure?”

“Of course,” she said, allowing him to lead her back to the dance floor. “Let’s see, what are they playing? Oh, ‘La Cumparsita’! A tango. Yes, I think I could manage that.”

“A tango,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “Of course it would be a tango.”

He slid his arm behind her back and pulled her to him.