“Now, now, Frau Kelmar,” he said soothingly. “The fact is, I thought I’d pop round for a chat.”

“I haven’t got time,” she snapped. “Out—go on! Be off with you! You’re only in the way here.”

She slammed down some saucepans on the table beside his elbow and shook some flour into a bowl, taking care that some of it fell on his uniform. I went through to the stables with Hannerl, shutting the door behind me, and said:

“Come on—let’s get those horses saddled again. As soon as she gets rid of him, we can leave.”

“No!” she said. “He’s talking about buying a horse—they’ll be in and out, I shouldn’t wonder!”

“Oh, no! How long’s it going to take, for goodness’ sake?”

She shook her head as the clock in the church tower struck five. I sat down on the step. The sergeant’s voice droned on behind the door, interrupted by the clatter of saucepans and the occasional tart remark from Ma. Time passed.

I said to Hannerl, “It’s no good—we’ll have to saddle them up and take the risk. Maybe we can take them outside and wait in the alley.”

“But supposing—”

“We’ll just have to hope they don’t. Where are the horses you picked out?”

She showed me a great black brute and a skittish-looking bay. I didn’t like the look of either of them, but I helped her get them ready, and then went back to the door. The sergeant was still there, and another man’s voice joined in as well now: old Conrad was saying something.

The clock struck half-past five.

“Oh, won’t he ever go?” I whispered. “Hannerl, go and tell him there’s been a burglary somewhere and they want him quick—”

But then came the sound of a chair being pushed back, and the sergeant laughing.

“He’s going,” whispered Hannerl. “He might come back out this way….”

We waited; more time passed. I was near to despair. Finally I could stand it no longer and opened the door and entered the kitchen. Ma was busy at the fire, her expression tight and furious. The sergeant was standing in the doorway to the parlor, talking to someone.

“Ma! Go through and shut the door and I’ll get Peter out quickly!” I whispered.

She nodded, and pushed past the sergeant, shutting the door. I opened the cellar door, and Peter, sitting on the top step, leapt up in a moment. “Where is he?” he said.

“Come on! Let’s go!” I whispered. I looked at the clock before I shut the door: a quarter to six….