‘Of course,’ Eaton said. ‘We understand that. The excitement of getting you home safe . . . Well, perhaps we weren’t thinking clearly ourselves.’

‘Are you nearly finished with her? I think I could do with another coffee and a quiet word or two about the best course of action – and, importantly, the timing – to bring your plan to fruition.’

‘Certainly,’ Eaton said. ‘Let’s retire to the kitchen and leave Professor Bromley to his deliberations.’

*

‘You understand, don’t you, Cashbone? Eaton? You’ve got a plan that might just work, but we’ve also got to do our best for the girl. I think it’s possible to get your publicity out there without ever telling her what’s going on. Ten-year-old girls can be steered clear of the wireless and newspapers. If necessary, she can be given a false identity so that she doesn’t get bullied at school. It wouldn’t look good for America or Britain if we paraded her like a prize catch.’

‘Point taken,’ Eaton said.

‘But we need photographs,’ Cashbone said. ‘Our photographer will be here tomorrow. Astonishing what you can do with light, shade and the perfect angle. He’ll bring out the similarities between our two subjects.’

‘We’ll make sure she has a good night’s sleep, then. Fresh as a daisy so she looks her best. But she doesn’t need to know what you’re doing with the pictures, does she?’

‘She’ll find out one day, whatever happens. We can’t protect her from the truth for ever,’ Eaton cautioned.

’No,’ Wilde agreed. ‘But hopefully she’ll be better able to deal with it in a year or two’s time. And if the plan works as we hope, we might be able to present her to the public as something of a heroine – the girl who helped bring peace, tragic victim of the Nazis who slaughtered her mother. That sort of thing.’

‘I like the way you’re thinking, Wilde.’ Cashbone grinned.

Eaton said nothing. He was looking at Wilde in that quiet way that he often used when analysing information.

‘But in the meantime,’ Cashbone continued, ‘I want the three of you to stay here. Mr Eaton has told you the Germans have sent someone after the girl?’

Wilde nodded.

‘Then this is the safest place for you for now. Mrs Kemp will see you have everything you need.’

‘Thank you. And I think some decorations would be in order, don’t you?’ Wilde added. ‘Nothing like a Christmas tree to bring some cheer to a house with a child in residence.’

*

Eaton, Cashbone and Bromley left before lunch. Cashbone said he would be in touch within the next twenty-four hours to keep Wilde updated.