‘Just don’t tell Abakumov that I’m here. He’ll think I’m bourgeois and decadent. And certainly don’t tell Beria or he’ll come snatch all the girls for himself.’

‘Now that’s funny.’

‘Funny enough to get shot for?’

‘Maybe not. I’ve ordered you vodka.’

‘You see, you already know me. We are like old friends.’

The vodka arrived, Minsky downed it in one and ordered the girl to bring back a whole bottle, as well as a botle of whisky.

‘Nice and noisy in here, Comrade Professor. We can talk without being overheard. But you can be sure we are being watched, so just be a little cautious, OK?’

‘Well if you’re being watched surely you are in grave danger just by meeting me?’

‘International relations. I’m spying on you, getting you drunk to discover your next move. So tell me, my friend, how did your little talk with the Nazi go? Did he tell you where Hitler’s hiding?’

‘Are you suggesting you don’t already know exactly what Hans Fritzsche told me?’

‘Now, how would I know that? You had a private conversation.’

Wilde laughed. ‘So SMERSH has never bugged a room. Well, well, it’s good to hear you’re so trusting. But tell me, what do you know about SS Standartenführer Julius Boden?’

Minsky shrugged. ‘I can tell you that he is not in Soviet hands, if that is any help.’

‘But you’ve heard of him?’

‘Not before today. But back to my problem. I have to trust you, comrade Ami. I am putting my life in your hands. What moves have you made?’

Wilde had spoken with Eaton earlier in the evening. ‘OK, this is the situation,’ Eaton had said. ‘If you can get your Russian to Bad Oeynhausen, I’ll meet you and take over from you. I’ll transport him to England for debriefing in a safe house. You can make him one promise: we will not send him back to the Soviets. But there are sticking points. Money is the main one. Also we will need to know his name sooner rather than later. The other thing is that all this must be done without the Soviets knowing that we are in any way involved. They are, lest you forget, our allies and so we cannot be seen to be working against them.’

‘It is agreed that we work together on this, MI6 and OSS?’ Wilde said. ‘All information gained from him shared?’ Wilde was feeling conflicted. Going straight to MI6 ahead of his OSS chiefs was uncomfortable, as if he was crossing an invisible line.

‘Naturally.’

‘I have one worry. Getting him out in secret. I’m pretty sure he’s got a shadow. He went to great lengths to speak to me where we could not possibly be overheard.’

‘I’ll rely on your judgement, Tom.’