She would bet good money that Rupert Nobes had not been with them by coincidence, but she couldn’t see yet how he fit in to it all. She wondered if she would ever know. Poor Rupert, still lying in hospital somewhere back in Romania. And Sister Marguerite – where was she now?

The silence was broken by Le Goff, knocking smartly on the door before letting himself in.

“You have another visitor, Max,” he said. “She has just arrived. But we’ll be arresting her as well.”

Max’s heart leaped. That could only mean one thing.

“Sister Marguerite?”

11. A Cupboard in Sirkeci Station

And it really was.

Le Goff nodded a small, tired nod. “I’ll bring her now. Madame Morel, there is some paperwork to discuss with you, as Max’s acting guardian…”

“Of course. I will say goodbye to my great-niece,” tinkled Great-Aunt Elodie, “while you fetch the nun.” It was not a question. Le Goff nodded, and left.

Max put her face in her hands and took several steadying breaths. Until now, she had not really let herself think her fears out loud. But Marguerite was alive. It was all right. It was all right.

When she raised her head, Great-Aunt Elodie was standing by the table with the contents of Max’s case and the empty bobble hat. Max was sure she saw her gloved paw twitch something quickly out of sight.

“What are—” she began – but then Le Goff arrived, and she could hear Marguerite’s singsong voice nattering behind him, and she forgot to finish the question. Le Goff signalled for Marguerite to wait and be quiet, as he took his leave of Great-Aunt Elodie, who apologized very sadly for Max.

“She is just a child, officer,” she sighed. “It seems this nun must be the real menace.”

“Quite so, madame.”

“Could I see it?” she asked, with a small porcelain smile. “The little diamond causing all the trouble? If it’s not too rude to ask; I realize you are doing a very stressful job here, Commandant…”

Le Goff was obviously pleased that somebody finally appreciated this. He coughed importantly, and held up the diamond for her to inspect. She ran a gloved finger over it in wonder.

And then a flurry of things happened very fast:

Le Goff returned the diamond safely to his pocket, and said goodbye to Great-Aunt Elodie. She sailed from the room.

Sister Marguerite flew in wimple first, tripping over something. She grabbed at Le Goff for balance, who peeled her off with distaste.

From somewhere outside, Ester started bellowing. Le Goff sighed and left the room, locking the door behind him.

That was all: nothing that seemed important. All this happened in seconds – in the blink of a beady, bright little eye – as fast as the flutter of a phantom.