The group met this information with the mute astonishment of board members watching a grenade roll into the conference room. The Frenchman had expected a rise from one of them at the name of the American, but none bit. A well-trained bunch. “I am afraid there is even more,” he said. “The major general in charge of the Abwehr has become friendly with Limpet, who lives next door to him. As happenstance would have it, the general has engaged Lapwing in a capacity that is likely to put him in the path of Limpet. Major Renault instructed me to say that the two to whom the information applies will understand the ramifications of this unexpected turn of events.”

The Frenchman avoided looking at Bridgette, who he would have bet his last pack of Gauloises was Labrador, Alistair’s favorite. “One last item pertains to Labrador,” he said. “A French policeman is glued to your side. The man has been accepted into the Vichy Milice when it goes into operation in January. Major Renault felt that was enough information to make you aware of the danger the policeman poses to you and your assignment.”

Henri unlaced his hands and sat back. “Now, mademoiselles and messieurs,” he said with the satisfied air of a messenger having safely delivered the goods, “I have put all the cards on the table, as you would say. It is up to you to do what you will with them.”

Now he could smoke. He drew out a pack of Gauloises. He loathed the evil-tasting things, but they were an addiction. The light at the window had vanished and the room was filling with dusk. The cold had seeped in, forcing the group to draw their coats closer around them. Before lighting up, he held a match to the wick of a table candle stuck in a wine bottle encrusted with years of molten wax drippings, then to the tip of the Gauloises, sat back, and waited. The silence was as thick as the smoke clouding the room.

Bridgette spoke. “What do we call you?”

The Frenchman blew out a spiral of smoke and answered blandly, “No name.”

“Fair enough. ‘No Name’ it is. So what is the decision we’re to make, No Name?”