The rain was heavy that day and Marius climbed down to help Daisy pull the cart through the stretches of road that had been churned and turned into a sticky pond. Lorries skidded past and turned the boy into a walking statue of clay. They travelled just a kilometre by noon; it was a midday that was as dark as midnight.

Madame Clare made sure her treasure box was locked then disappeared into a roadside tavern for lunch, carrying the bag that she took everywhere. She was there a long time. Aimee took Daisy out of the shafts to give her some food and let her nibble grass in a field.

At last Madame Clare appeared, looking restless and excited. ‘There is no point in struggling on today,’ she said. ‘The army is held up at Saint Quentin and the roads are blocked with lorries that have slid into ditches. Pull the cart into the field with Daisy and we’ll stay here till the weather clears.’

‘There’s a drovers’ road just over the hill,’ Aimee said. ‘We need to keep moving.’

Madame Clare’s face turned red under her pale make-up. ‘We stay here. That is an order. Don’t disobey me, child. We stay here.’

Aimee bit her lip to stop her angry reply. ‘Yes, Madame,’ she said.

‘I’ll wait in the tavern. You stay here.’

As she turned to go something fell from her bag. It was a piece of folded paper.

Aimee was so cross she said nothing as it floated down into the mud. ‘Serve her right if it’s precious,’ she muttered. Then she stepped out of the shelter of the cart’s canvas roof and picked up the sheet. She unfolded it and her face turned grey as the clouds.

‘What’s wrong?’ Marius asked.

‘It’s a small printed poster,’ Aimee explained. ‘A sort of Wanted poster. It says General Bruce’s daughter has been abducted by a German spy... It describes me, and it describes you.’

‘You are not the daughter of General Bruce.’

‘No. It’s just a story to make people think we’re worth reporting. And that we are worth a thousand francs reward.’

‘There is a price on our heads... like outlaws?’

Aimee nodded. ‘And it gives a number to call. It asks anyone who sees us to call the church at Cléry and report to Father Gaulle.’

Marius thought about it. ‘Silver Hand is on the road behind us. Whenever he has the chance he’ll call Father Gaulle and ask if there’ve been any reports.’

Aimee nodded. ‘And look at the roof of the tavern. See? By the corner? There? That wire?’

‘A telephone line,’ Marius said. ‘Madame Clare has betrayed us.’

‘Sold us for a thousand francs,’ the girl agreed.

‘That’s why she was in the tavern so long.’