‘No need to show me gratitude, we’re not in some bloody Oxford college. What it means is that had I not decided you’re a cum laude agent, I would not have told you what I’m about to tell you. We have a further source in Copenhagen, one so highly placed and so important to us that you are only to approach him in the most extreme of circumstances: if Agent Osric is unable to help you and if your life is in danger, not if you’ve run out of milk. Do you understand this?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Just three people in this country know about this source, including myself. If he’s compromised, it would be a disaster for this country. His code name is Browning. Under no circumstances are you to approach him directly. Now, you’ll need to concentrate, Prince. I’m about to tell you how to contact him.’

Chapter 4

The North Sea, November 1942

When Prince came down for breakfast at seven thirty, Jack Shaw was already at the table, looking slightly nervous and smiling as if genuinely pleased to see him. His hands shook slightly as he poured his own tea and a cup for Prince.

‘We’ll leave here at nine, maybe a shade earlier if the driver gets here before then.’

‘So we sail today?’

‘I’m afraid I’m only permitted to advise you of our arrangements one stage at a time, sir. In any case, you’ll not be going straight to the port. Mr Gilbey has arranged a stop on our journey.’

They left the house near Matlock just before nine and headed east. Throughout the journey Shaw was continually glancing around, peering in the wing mirror, trying to see through the back window and instructing the driver to let any car coming up behind them overtake. On at least four occasions he told him to pull into a lay-by, and they waited there in silence, apart from the driver drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. They drove south of Mansfield and crossed the Great North Road near Newark before joining the road to Hykeham, heading north towards Lincoln. Prince could feel his heart beating fast. He now had an inkling of where they could be going.

Instead of going to his own home, however, they turned north-east when they entered Lincoln, soon pulling into the driveway of a house off the Lindum Road. Shaw turned round, addressing Prince in his public school accent, no longer nervous.