Wilde let them pass and Lydia guided Romy and Klara towards the sitting room, leaving the men in their wake.

‘So, this is your Christmas present for Klara,’ Wilde said, pushing the front door closed.

‘Rather a good one, it seems.’

‘How did you get her here? I’m astonished that she’s even alive – Jim Vanderberg was pretty sure she had been murdered in Berlin.’

‘That’s a very long story – she can tell you herself, assuming your German’s up to it. She doesn’t have much English, I’m afraid.’

‘No problem for me these days. And Lydia knows enough. But tell me, Eaton, how the hell did you find us?’

‘Well, I had you followed, of course. Couple of Special Branch men. They’re experts at tailing a mark when the mark is doing everything in his power not to be tailed. They said you were good – very good, actually – but not good enough.’

‘What about Cashbone?’

‘We’ve got to be very careful. If he finds out about any of this, we’re all in deep manure. He has been making trouble at a high level, telling the State Department the goddamned limeys are refusing to help, calling us unreliable allies. It’s not a good start to our joint endeavour.’

‘I don’t suppose it helps to point out to him that I’m an American like him?’

‘He thinks you’ve gone native. Maybe he’s right.’

‘Could he have followed you here?’

‘No. He doesn’t have the manpower and Bill Whitney is keeping him busy elsewhere. But he won’t forget you, Wilde. These next few days are critical.’

‘I suppose you have a plan other than simply bringing Frau Dietrich here?’

‘I do. But it’s difficult to organise, so please give me a little time. It involves Frau Dietrich adopting Klara.’

Wilde couldn’t help grinning. ‘Well, that alone is wonderful news.’

The warmth between the German woman and the girl who called her Auntie Romy was evident.

‘Fingers crossed, eh? Now, I’m leaving Frau Dietrich here with you. I’ll be back in a day or two. You need to be ready at all times.’

‘Consider it done.’

‘Before I go, there’s a little something in the boot of the car for you. Hamper of decent food and a case of claret. Care to help me unload it?’

‘I don’t know what to say, Eaton. I should have trusted you when you asked me to.’

‘No. You were right not to. You’re a bloody good agent, Tom. Sooner you get a full-time role with the COI the better. And there’s something else. I do have a plan. Don’t tell Frau Dietrich or the girl yet in case it doesn’t come off . . .’

‘Go on.’

‘I took a bit of a liberty, I’m afraid, and made contact with Jim Vanderberg’s wife in America.’

‘You spoke to Juliet?’