‘I was wondering what caused you to say I couldn’t stay here indefinitely?’

She turned to look at him, weighing up whether to answer. She finished her tea and plumped her pillow. ‘We heard from Germany, from someone in Frankfurt. You remember I told you about the English couple who turned up there?’ She moved closer and placed her hand on his stomach. ‘Well, it seems that the man is almost certainly the same one who was hunting for you earlier this year, and who so nearly found you. We think his name is Prince.’

‘The one you encountered in Gerrards Cross?’

‘Yes – and who I identified at the pub in London. If he’s involved in this case, then there could be a problem.’

‘So what is going to happen?’

‘The Admiral is of the view – which I share – that it’s too dangerous for you to remain in this country. We can get you on the Kestrel Line and away from Europe, and you’ll be able to take money over with you.’

He edged away from her. ‘But how will I get there… and when?’

‘I’m sorting things out at the moment, Edward. I’ll probably travel with you.’ She was talking as if they were planning a Sunday-afternoon outing, and now she pressed her warm body against his colder one.

‘That’s rather put the cat amongst the pigeons, hasn’t it, Tom?’

‘In what sense, Roly?’

‘Oh do come off it… A few weeks ago you were all for giving up looking for this Friedrich chap, ready to file it under “too much trouble”, but now – judging by this august gathering – it would seem to be a matter of the utmost urgency.’

Sir Roland Pearson swept his arm round to indicate all the people present, like a conductor preparing his orchestra. They were in a secure room in the basement of the MI6 offices. Roland Bentley was there, along with Hugh Harper from MI5 and a man called Bartholomew. Prince and Hanne were sitting at the end of the table.

‘I think one has to recognise that the rules of the game have rather changed,’ said Gilbey. He was looking in the direction of Prince and Hanne. Prince glanced at his wife. He could sense she was confused by the language and the unspoken tension in the room.

‘Prince, perhaps you and Hanne would care to give us your assessment of the situation,’ said Bentley. ‘We need to know how seriously we ought to take this Bormann business. If we believe it is true, then we need to up our game. Because of the gravity of the matter, I have referred it to the very highest levels, and I can tell you, the view of His Majesty’s Government is that because Bormann is arguably the most prominent Nazi apparently still at liberty, capturing him should be regarded as a priority.’

Prince looked at Hanne and gestured for her to speak. The others in the room seemed surprised.