‘She’s in an attic room; it’s a sort of makeshift guest room. I told Madame that Gisele has a fever that is infectious. I have a key, so that no one can get to her, and I look after her. I think she’s concussed and could have cracked her skull in the fall.’

‘Oh, Marjie, this is awful. But, my dear, you have done the right thing in ordering that Monty be dealt with, and in moving camp. There is no alternative. I’m shocked about Gisele. And, well . . . Oh, I don’t know. This is a stinking mess.’

‘She’s so young, Uncle Arnie.’ Marjie laid out the case for Gisele as she had done to André, reminding him of Gisele’s work for the cause, and how she thought Gisele innocent in it all – trusting someone she’d known all her life and was deeply in love with. ‘Please, Uncle. It is enough that my darling Monty pays the ultimate price, but not Gisele, too – she doesn’t deserve to.’

‘I understand her part, and we are at fault. We took all she could do for us and never trained her in how to deal with anyone – even those she knew – wanting information. Of course she knew that, if caught, she would face torturous interrogation and certain death. But, as you say, Gisele is courageous and she accepted that. And, I believe, she would rather die than give us away intentionally.’

‘Thank you – thank you so much. And you agree that it is possible the Germans may have known the source of Monty’s information and that, once they lose Monty, Gisele will be a target for the information they can no longer get through him?’

‘Yes, I do. But if we are going to save her, it is vital that we get her to her aunt’s in Spain as soon as possible. However, if you are right in your suspicion about what is wrong with Gisele, then we need a doctor. The communist groups are well organized and have recruited doctors of the same persuasion to join their cause. I’ll see about Gisele getting help. Did her parents know she was leaving?’

‘Yes, it was all arranged very quickly, and they probably think she is in Spain now.’ Talking about the practicalities of what was going to happen to Gisele had distracted Marjie from her grief, but once she felt happy that Arnie was on the same side as her, where Gisele was concerned, pain flooded back into her. ‘I’m so relieved, for Gisele; but how am I going to cope with what I’ve done to Monty? How will my mama and papa, and Freddy and Randie, ever forgive me? How am I going to live with myself? Oh, Uncle Arnie, I can’t bear it all.’