Pointless to dissemble. What little he knew about children of Klara’s age made him think they were rather likely to see straight through a lie.

‘I do not know who my real mother and father were, but Pappi told me they were dead. All I have of them is this.’

She pulled out a silver locket which was hanging around her neck.

‘Is there a picture of them?’

‘No, small locks of their hair, braided and twined together. Would you like to see?’

‘If you don’t mind.’

She prised the locket open with a fingernail. A curl of twined and braided hair sat behind glass in one half of the open case. To look at, it was unremarkable; the strands of hair could be anyone’s.

‘Do you know your birth name, Klara?’

‘I do, but I am never to tell anyone, which is a shame, because I prefer it to Rieger.’

‘I’m sorry. It is very sad to lose your parents. Sunny Somerfeld and I will do our very best to find you a place of safety and happiness.’

‘You are not married, you and Sunny?’

‘No, we are merely working together on your behalf.’

‘So I will not be living with you both?’

‘I promise, you will have a loving home. I hope you trust me.’

Her eyes met his, then she smiled. ‘And I would like a puppy. Not to replace Bismarck, you understand – because he could never be replaced. But all the same, a puppy would make me happy.’

‘I’m sure that will be possible.’

She nodded slowly, as though dreaming of the puppy that would one day be hers. They sat together in companionable silence, eating small pieces of bacon and rye bread. Wilde looked at his watch. Sunny had only been gone five minutes, but it already felt like an hour.

‘Oh, it’s so cold,’ Klara said, shivering and crossing her arms.

Wilde took off his jacket. ‘Put this around your shoulders.’

‘Then you will be cold.’

‘That doesn’t matter.’

She took the jacket and wrapped herself in it.

‘Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’

Klara looked thoughtful. ‘Why did you come for me, Tom?’

The hair prickled on the back of his neck. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, why you? Did Pappi call you? I don’t understand who you and Sunny really are, you see. Only that Pappi’s code tells me I should trust you. I heard shooting, but that wasn’t you, was it?’

‘No.’

‘Then why were you there at my home?’

Despite not wanting to lie to her, he knew he couldn’t tell her the truth.

‘Sunny and I were friends of your father from a long time ago. He called us because he knew you were in danger.’