It sounded a lot like Jamie’s struggle with Cromwell, and I knew the commander would be puzzled—should he believe the German flight crew’s commanding officer or the resistance cell’s designated leader? Directly across from me, Jamie was lined up standing at attention at the end of the row beside Silver, and our eyes met. I thought they were both struggling not to laugh. I had to look away so they wouldn’t infect me with it.

Wing Commander Cromwell rumbled, “If they can’t agree on their story we can’t get sense out of any one of them.” Without warning he told the guard at the door, “Call Mrs. Campbell back out here. We all want tea.”

Nan crept through and let herself behind the bar, where she put the kettle on to boil and tiptoed about rattling teacups. Jane and Eberhard Moritz started talking to each other again while Phyllis scribbled frantically in her cardboard notebook, trying to record everything properly.

It was hard not to fidget. Jamie’s rigid Pimms Section crews stood lined up like statues. Put your shoulders back, Lula, Mummy always told me as I stood up to play the flute. Make your daddy proud. If Pimms could do it, so could I.

“Moritz says none of them will speak in confidence here,” Jane relayed finally. “He objects to a civilian translator—that’s me, you know—and requests a translator aligned with the services, and also reminds us that according to the Geneva Convention of 1929, he and his companions are not required to tell you anything more than their name and rank.”

I thought that all sounded quite stuffed up, even if it was true. I looked over at Felix Baer. His face was turned away as if he couldn’t stand to watch. He was seething with fury.

Eberhard Moritz added something else, less stiffly.

“He’s just apologizing for being rude about me doing the translation,” Jane explained. “He credits my German as being very good.”

Baer tried once more. Pale beneath the bruises, he faced Cromwell directly. He reined in his anger, but I was sure he was desperate to make himself understood.

Jane was cool as she translated.

“He insists that Althammer is lying. He says that he and Moritz have risked their lives to deliver concealed information, which they hope will be of mutual benefit to Britain and Germany. Baer believes Althammer is trying to prevent them from delivering it.”

Jamie:

Nancy’s clattering fell silent; she froze in the act of holding up her teapot. Cromwell sat with his mouth open and his fists clenched on the table in stark bafflement, waiting for a clear explanation.

I stared at the floor. I didn’t dare catch Louisa’s eye again.

Moritz and Baer uttered another dueling fugue of frustration and defiance.