‘You’ve taken leave of your senses, man,’ Eaton said as he handed Wilde a Scotch. ‘You’ve managed to make enemies of the Germans and the Americans. Takes a rare genius to do that.’

Wilde looked at him. ‘What about you and the British – have I made enemies of you, too?’

Eaton poured himself a brandy. ‘Me personally? Of course not. But the British, certainly. Nothing that happens on British soil must embarrass us with your countrymen, Wilde. Churchill knows about the package. If he has any reservations about using the girl, he’s keeping them to himself. We want her back. You’ve abducted her – and you have to return her.’

‘You know I can’t do that, and you know why.’

Eaton picked up his brandy and they clinked glasses.

‘Of course I do. Would it make you feel any better if I told you I had no part in Mr Cashbone’s scheme? When he sent you off to Berlin, I had no idea what you were expected to bring back.’

‘Strangely enough, I believe you. So now you can help me.’

Eaton looked grim. ‘You don’t understand the mess you’re in, do you, Wilde? And you’ve made it all the worse by involving an innocent party, to wit, Miss Morris. What does she think about all this?’

‘She’s behind me, one hundred per cent.’

He smiled wryly. ‘Of course she is. One of my favourite people in the world, Miss Morris. I even like her idealistic outlook and her rather bohemian left-wing passions, but she’s a complete stranger to realpolitik. As you well know.’

‘So you won’t help me?’

‘Did I say that? First tell me what you’re planning.’

‘That’s just it, I don’t have any plans. Lydia and the children are well hidden and safe, but I simply don’t know what to do next.’

‘Easy. Hand over the girl and I promise you’ll face no charge. I’m sure I can keep the dogs at bay.’

Wilde shook his head. ‘Not good enough, Eaton, and you know it. I think you feel the same way as I do.’

‘No, just because I understand your actions and may be willing to help you, that doesn’t mean I agree with what you’ve done. Because Cashbone is right. We need something. The war in the Far East is looking bloody disastrous, Western Europe is lost, Russia could fall at any moment and Rommel’s hitting us hard in North Africa. So we need a victory over the Nazis, however small – and producing Hitler’s daughter would be a propaganda coup to put the flight of Hess into the shade.’

‘It would make us look like heartless opportunists.’