I went through the hotel’s handsome doorway and into the sumptuous lobby with its square pillars of dark, yellow-clouded marble. Everywhere there were tasteful objets d’art; and in every corner there was the gleam of yet more marble. I went into the bar, which was full of foreign journalists and embassy people, and asked the barman, an old friend of mine, for a beer and the use of his telephone. I called Bruno Stahlecker at the Alex.

‘Hallo, it’s me, Bernie.’

‘What do you want, Bernie?’

‘How about Gerhard Von Greis?’ I said. There was a long pause. ‘What about him?’ Bruno’s voice sounded vaguely challenging, as if he was daring me to know more than I was supposed to.

‘He’s just a name on a piece of paper to me at the moment.’

‘That all?’

‘Well, I heard he was missing.’

‘Would you mind telling me how?’

‘Come on, Bruno, why are you being so coy about it? Look, my little song-bird told me, all right? Maybe if I knew a bit more I might be able to help.’

‘Bernie, there are two hot cases in this department right now, and you seem to be involved in both of them. That worries me.’

‘If it will make you feel better, I’ll have an early night. Give me a break, Bruno.’

‘This makes two in one week.’

‘I owe you.’

‘You’re damn right you do.’

‘So what’s the story?’

Stahlecker lowered his voice. ‘Ever heard of Walther Funk?’

‘Funk? No, I don’t think I have. Wait a minute, isn’t he some big noise in the business world?’

‘He used to be Hitler’s economic advisor. He’s now Vice-President of the Reich Chamber of Culture. It would seem that he and Herr Von Greis were a bit warm on each other. Von Greis was Funk’s boyfriend.’

‘I thought the Führer couldn’t stand queers?’

‘He can’t stand cripples either, so what will he do when he finds out about Joey Goebbels’s club foot?’ It was an old joke, but I laughed anyway.

‘So the reason for tiptoes is because it could be embarrassing for Funk, and therefore embarrassing for the Government, right?’