Leni walked into the bathroom and turned on the taps. She prayed to God that there was still some hot water. She held her hand under the tap for what felt like an age, but eventually it came, scaldingly hot, hissing and burbling.

“Do you want some bath salts in it?” she shouted through.

“Yes!”

She put in a healthy dose—that would make him even more relaxed. She went back into the bedroom to find Carl standing naked next to the table, piling meat into his mouth.

“You look starving!”

“I am,” he said with his mouth full. “Sorry, here’s your champagne.”

He passed her a glass, and she raised it to him.

“Here’s to our boys in Normandy,” she said.

Strasser looked surprised—he had expected Leni to toast something a little more intimate, a little more flippant perhaps.

“Our boys in Normandy,” he said. “And those in the east.”

“Those in the east,” said Leni, and took a mouthful.

Strasser picked up a piece of ham.

“This is delicious!” he said.

“Good. I’m glad you like it.”

“How can you afford to stay in a place like this anyway?”

“Some of my rather more high-ranking clients can be very generous.”

“Extremely generous. So who’s this on? Whose generosity am I abusing tonight?”

“Oh, a crusty old Wehrmacht general you’ve probably never heard of.”

“Try me. What’s his name?”

Leni walked over and kissed him.

“Now, my darling Carl, you don’t think I’m going to tell you that, do you?”

Strasser smiled awkwardly.

“I think your bath may be ready,” said Leni. “I’ll come and sit with you. Perhaps I could help you wash?”

“That would be wonderful,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve been washed by somebody else since…since my mother.”

Leni giggled.

“This will be very different from your mother’s baths!”

“I hope so!”

Leni led Strasser into the bathroom. He stepped into the bath and lay back, letting the hot water wash over him.

“This is a great bath,” he said, closing his eyes.

“Let me wash your chest.”

Leni rolled up the sleeves of her robe, and took a bar of soap from the tray. It smelled of lavender, the type of detail that made the Adlon so expensive. She worked up a lather, and soaped Strasser’s chest. He groaned with pleasure.

“That feels so good.”

Leni rinsed her hands in the bathwater, and playfully gave his penis a tug. As she stood up, she gave him a kiss on the forehead.

“I’ve just got to get something from the other room,” she said.

“Go ahead,” said Strasser drowsily, his eyes shut.