Mr Jones sat down heavily in the chair opposite Felix’s. ‘They never specifically said it was their business, just that they worked with coal. I assumed they owned the business because they lived in Ranelagh Street, and you’d have to have pots of money to be able to live somewhere as grand as that …’ He heaved a sigh. ‘You’re right, I should’ve asked more questions. I knew something wasn’t right, but I was so grateful that someone …’

Felix cut him short. ‘It’s not your fault,’ he conceded. ‘They came here with one thought in mind, and that was to get free labour, someone to do their dirty work for them; you weren’t to know that.’

‘That’s very good of you,’ said Reggie, ‘but I should’ve asked them to be more specific with details, only I was so relieved that someone had come who wanted an older child, and the fact that they lived in Liverpool …’ He fell silent; there didn’t seem much point in continuing.

Felix pushed his plate of kippers to one side; he was no longer in the mood for food. ‘There’s no point in crying over split milk …’

‘Spilt,’ corrected Reggie.

Felix shrugged. ‘Spilt milk, then. All I want to know now is how we go about finding where she really is.’

‘Well, we know that her father was going to work for an insurance company in the Liver Building,’ Reggie said. ‘We could write to them so that they can give her your forwarding address – when you get one, that is.’

‘How will they know where she is?’ said Felix.

‘She’s bound to go in asking questions about her parents, and whether they’ve been in touch. If we write a detailed letter, explaining who you are, and that we’re expecting Roz to contact them, I’m sure they’ll pass along your details.’

‘Why don’t we do it now?’ said Felix. ‘We can give Dovercourt as the address …’

Reggie’s eyes widened. ‘No! Not everyone approves of what we’re doing. If they thought we were making mistakes, it might be the excuse they need to shut us down, and that can’t happen, not yet. We still have thousands of children to get out, and not just Jews – Hitler’s turned on the gypsies now too.’

Felix looked grave. He would have asked why, but he knew that question would prove futile, so instead he asked, ‘How bad do you think it’s going to get?’

Reggie shook his head. ‘So far no one’s saying no to him, and that’s not a good thing. We’ve no idea how far he intends his power to extend, but …’

‘But what?’ said Felix, his voice hollow.

‘He’s building up his army, and he’s only doing that for one reason … war.’

Felix sat back in his chair. ‘Who with?’