“And,” said Heydrich, “since you’re the only man in Sipo who’s ever had the pleasure to have met Mielke, that makes you uniquely qualified to go to France and make the arrest. The French are already proving to be extremely cooperative in this regard. They’re as anxious to get rid of some of their German undesirables as we are to get hold of them. And you certainly won’t find that you’re the only police officer making the journey down there to arrest a fugitive from German justice. Merely one of the most important ones. Because, make no mistake about it, Gunther, Erich Mielke is very near the top of our wanted list.”

“I have some questions, sir,” I said.

Heydrich nodded.

“First of all, I don’t speak French.”

“That’s not a problem at all. In Paris you will liaise with Hauptmann Paul Kestner, whom I believe you know from your time together in Kripo. Kestner is from Alsace and speaks fluent French. He’s ordered to offer you any assistance that you require. The two of you will report to my own deputy, General Werner Best of the Gestapo. Together with Helmut Knochen, who’s the senior commander of security in Paris, he’ll assign you some French police to assist in your mission, code-named Fafnir.”

I nodded. “Fafnir, right you are, sir. I’m glad you didn’t say Hagen.”

It didn’t happen very often, but Heydrich looked puzzled.

“In the Ring cycle, sir,” I explained, “Hagen kills Gunther.”

Heydrich smiled. “Well, I’ll kill you if don’t find Mielke,” he said. “Understand?”

I was glad he was smiling. “Yes, Herr General.”

“He’ll need a uniform, sir,” said Schellenberg.

“Have you a uniform, Gunther?”

“No, Herr General. Not yet.”

“I thought not. Good. That gives us an opportunity to talk privately. Come with me. And bring Mielke’s file with you. You’ll need it.”

He stood up, collected his hat, and walked to the door. I followed him to the outer office, where he was already telling Bettina to have his car brought to the front door and collecting a briefcase from Schellenberg. He took the file from me and placed it inside the briefcase.

“Are we going somewhere?” I asked.

“My tailor,” he said, and marched toward the huge marble staircase. “You can give me the clothing coupons later on.”

As we came out of the building the guards on Prinz Albrechtstrasse came to attention, and for a moment we waited for the car to appear. Heydrich permitted me to light his cigarette and then handed me the briefcase.

“Everything you need for Operation Fafnir is in that briefcase,” he said. “Money, passes, travel documentation, and more besides. Much more. Which is why I wanted to talk to you in private.” He glanced around at the two SS guards as if making sure they were out of earshot and then said the most extraordinary thing: