As the strong coffee kicked in, the room became busier: snatches of conversation began and a slight easing of the tension was apparent. One or two of the Slovenes slapped each other on the back, and there were brief snatches of laughter. This all stopped suddenly with a knock at the door: everyone fell silent and the lights were turned off.

Moments later, the door opened. Jožef and Marija bustled in and nodded at the others in the room, and were greeted warmly. Jožef went over to the wall and pinned up a large sheet of paper: a map showing a road and the area around it. Edvard stood between Hanne and Prince and translated as Marija spoke.

‘The building is here, on the east side of Viale Miramare. The west side of the street is the railway line, and beyond that Porto Vittorio Emanuele, where they’ll be heading. Behind the building are courtyards: Branka’s unit will cover the rear… Any questions so far?’

She barely paused before continuing. ‘We think there are at least five in the group, and the plan is for them to sail on Friday on a ship currently docked in Porto Vittorio Emanuele. Giuseppe is to meet them later tonight to plan how to smuggle them on board. The group are in an accountant’s office on the first floor – the name on the door says Mariani: Ragioniere di Costo. From what we can tell, the office is self-contained: we think it only has the one door. Giuseppe was told the entrance on the ground floor is unlocked, and when he gets to the first floor he’s to knock four times and then announce he has a parcel for a Signor Giordano. Can someone give me a coffee, please?’

She lit a cigarette and drank the coffee in one go, then handed the cup back for someone to give her another one.

‘We don’t think the British are aware of this building – yet. We must assume the group will be watching the front from where they are on the first floor. We’ve found a back door that leads to the basement and then up into the entrance hall. Our plan is that Jožef takes his unit down to Viale Miramare now while it’s still dark and waits in the basement. When Giuseppe enters the building, they’ll follow him up so they can burst in when the door is opened.’

‘Does Giuseppe know this?’

‘He’ll know what he needs to know Edvard. At that point I will follow in with my unit, which will include our comrades from England.’ She pointed her cigarette at Hanne and Prince.

Edvard stepped forward and tapped the crudely drawn map. ‘My unit will secure the front of the building: two of you here at one end of the block, and two at the other end. We’ll have two at the entrance and three across the road, then—’

‘That’s nine in your unit, Edvard?’

‘Plus me, yes.’

‘And there are how many of us here – eighteen including the English?’