Chris slipped the general’s invitation from his pants pocket. “I’m thinking something is fishy about tonight, too. This was delivered by courier today.” He handed the note to Brad. “I gather it was sent to me before March got the tickets.”

Brad frowned. “Otherwise, why not have Hans invite you to stay for dinner when you showed up for Wilhelm’s tutoring lesson this afternoon?”

“Exactly,” Chris said. “So I’m thinking something smells about tonight. Wilhelm suddenly not here. Madame not knowing, or forgetting, about her nightcap date. Of course we could be boxing at shadows, easy enough to do when you expect the bad guys to jump out of the bushes at any second.”

Brad nodded. “Hans told me that Wilhelm got in trouble with his papa yesterday. The sweet kid threw a fit when the general refused to invite us to share his chicken supper. Our invitations might be to make up to him for last night. I don’t think it could be more than that, unless somehow we’ve given him reason to be suspicious of us.”

“I don’t see how that would be possible, unless the Abwehr has a mole inside the Bern station.”

“We’d have been intercepted by now,” Brad said. “But to be on the safe side, we better keep a sharp eye out tonight.”

After dinner, the general glanced at his wristwatch and said, “Madame Gastain is expecting me shortly. I must leave before the soccer game is over.” Apologetically, he looked at Brad and Chris. “Gentlemen, could I impose upon you to wait here until Hans and Wilhelm arrive? Since my wife has been gone…I’d rather my son not come into an empty house. He’ll be bursting to tell me all about the game, but I am sure he would much rather share it with you.”

Brad looked at Chris, who nodded. “Of course, Herr General. It would be our pleasure,” he said.

They watched the bundled-up general walk out the door, then Chris turned to Brad. “Well, what do you think?”

“I think this opportunity to visit the general’s desk might be too good to pass up.”

“Or it’s a setup.” Chris gestured at the hall table. “The general forgot the bottle of port he brought from the cellar to take to Madame Gastain, which means that maybe he has a date with her after all. I guess we have to take a chance and let the cards fall where they may. You go do what you have to do, and I’ll stand watch in case he comes back for the port. I’ll say you’re in the toilettes.”