The girl managed not to laugh. ‘Then I shall instead take you there. My godfather, Herr Schulmann, apologizes that he himself had need of his car this afternoon and he has asked me to deputize. I am Rachel Greenbaum, how do you do?’

They introduced themselves and shook hands with her, Jeremy doing the talking while they walked to where she had parked her car, and A.P. trying to recover from the impact of her gaze and the musky scent she was wearing. Both had gone to his head.

Jeremy registered A.P.’s expression, gave him a wink, and allowed him to sit beside her in the blue Audi that matched her eyes and her clingy sweater. She too was wearing jeans, the kind that hugged her narrow hips. And probably had a designer label stitched inside the waistband, he wagered. Nor would it be Jeremy’s fault if A.P. didn’t get the chance to confirm that. Berlin was where the action was and Jeremy wasn’t going to spend the few days they had here on cerebral pursuits.

‘I’m pleased that Herr Schulmann needed the Rolls today, and I’m sure my cousin agrees,’ he helped A.P. along.

‘Well, it’s nice that we got to meet you, Rachel,’ A.P. ventured.

Jeremy would then have added, ‘What’re you doing this evening?’ What was the matter with A.P.?

‘You would in any case have met me,’ she replied. ‘My godfather he has asked me to show to you Berlin, if of course you would like that I should—’

‘I accept the offer with alacrity,’ said Jeremy.

‘And I with double alacrity,’ said A.P.

Rachel laughed, a mellow peal that went with the vibrancy of her voice. ‘I could not wish for a more charming response.’

But A.P. is going to have to do a lot better than that, thought Jeremy. Though he didn’t see all that much of the Kyverdales, their formality had sure rubbed off on him when it came to girls.

‘I am invited to dine tonight at the Schulmanns’,’ Rachel told them, ‘my parents also. Afterwards the four will settle down to play bridge and you shall see Berlin by night. I promise you I shall be a good guide.’

But for A.P.’s sake, not a good girl, hoped Jeremy. ‘In case there’s a disco or two included in our nocturnal itinerary,’ he said, ‘it would be useful perhaps if we could meet up after dinner with one of your girlfriends.’

‘That is already tentatively arranged. Paula, who was with me at school in Switzerland, has made herself available.’

Well, that sounded encouraging, thought Jeremy as Rachel began pointing out to them buildings that had become the landmarks of West Berlin.