‘Oh dear.’

‘I told her off of course and she did apologize.’

‘Well, I think it very dashing.’ Tommy smiled. He twisted his glass, watching as the golden liquid moved within, small waves lapping the edges. ‘You know that the Nazis are killing thousands of Jewish people, don’t you?’

Crawfie had not expected the conversation to take such a turn. ‘I know that they have imprisoned some. I read about it in the newspapers. But that was a while ago. Two years or so,’ she said slowly.

‘The newspapers were asked not to report on it after that. Bad for the morale of those at home already facing hardship and loss. What is actually happening in these camps is too much to bear for humankind. They are death camps. Jewish, Roma, Poles, Russians, Jehovah’s Witnesses – anyone who Hitler declares are impure.’

Marion was chilled. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means that Hitler wishes to create a pure Aryan race. Not tainted by the culture, religion or thought of anyone else. They are herded like animals onto railway trucks and taken to camps where they are held, starved, tortured, gassed or hanged – men, women and children. Clearing the way for the next delivery of poor souls.’

She stared at him. ‘How do you know? How can this be kept out of the papers?’

‘Because it is horrific. But it is true.’ He rubbed his eyes. ‘I am so damn tired of this war. Soviet soldiers liberated five hundred people yesterday from a camp called Majdanek in Poland. Reports tell us that that the prisoners were like walking skeletons, and that there were literally hundreds more dead and heaped into piles.’

Crawfie was shaken. ‘But we need to know about this.’

‘Everyone will when the war is over. All those who did these things will be held to account. I was in a meeting with the Prime Minister and the King yesterday, and I can tell you, it is felt that the public would not be able to take in the immense horror. They really are anxious enough waiting for their homes to be bombed, receiving a telegram to let them know their husband, father, brother has been killed. We can’t tell them this.’

‘But five hundred people saved is a good story. We have stopped the enemy.’

‘No.’ Tommy rubbed his temples. ‘We haven’t. Intelligence suggests that there are thousands of such camps across Germany. Hitler is hastening his Final Solution.’

‘What?’

‘His Final Solution – to murder all those who don’t fit his criteria of a supreme human being. Premeditated mass murder. Genocide.’

‘Dear God,’ Crawfie murmured. ‘Why have you told me this?’

‘Because you have the strength of mind to bear it. And you will keep it to yourself. Forgive me, but I needed to tell someone.’

Now she reached over the desk and squeezed his hand. ‘I won’t tell a soul. You look all done in.’ She stood up and placed her whisky glass on the tea tray. ‘Go to bed, Tommy. You must sleep.’