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Riehl is conferring with the various industrial and economic boys; he’s been sent to get what information he can and report to his government on the exact condition of Italian war production, especially its most urgent needs in raw materials and ersatz products.”
    â€œAh … that makes sense.”
    Dwight made a wet noise with his pipe and looked at me over the top of it. “ Things are shortly going to move in Africa, Dr Mencken. Italy has to act more vigorously than she has done so far, to justify her rating as a major partner. All Germany expects it. But war wastage will be high and Italy is cut off from her normal markets. Also things are not well with either her war machine or her supply system. Von Riehl has been sent to find out what’s wrong. Next Tuesday, near the end of his stay, he’s attending this conference of scientists under Professor Brayda. From what you say, it sounds as if that’s really more his like of country than reporting on inefficiency and bottle-necks, but maybe he’s a man of all-round ability.”
    â€œHe’s that,” I said. “He is the breed of scientist who is much better at organising a department than doing original research. Where is the conference to be held?”
    â€œAt the big experimental laboratories attached to the Faroni works.”
    â€œOh, I know where that is.”
    â€œWhat sort of a memory have you?” Andrews asked.
    â€œPoor for most things. But good on my own subjects, I suppose.”
    â€œYou see, you’ll have to play this as it comes. You may be allowed to take a few notes—I don’t see why not—but it’ll depend a lot on how well Bonini supports you. You’ll be there after all as his secretary. Have you ever done any photography?”
    â€œAfraid not.”
    â€œPity. We’ve a nice little job that looks just like a gold wrist watch. You pull your cuff back to see the time and click .…”
    â€œNo,” said Dwight. “That would be a non-starter in inexpert hands—and dam’ dangerous. Let’s be content with Dr Mencken’s report. We don’t want him to fall at the first jump.”
    He began to cough again, and got up to change his position. He coughed till the veins stood cut on his narrow shiny forehead. Pulmonary oedema, most probably.
    â€œBlast,” he said. “ Where was I ? Oh, the camera——”
    â€œChlorine or phosgene?” I asked.
    He stared at me. “Phosgene,” he said after a moment. “Thiépval, 1916. I’d forgotten you were a doctor chappie.”
    â€œNot really. But I had a cousin in Vienna. He had got it fighting on the other side.…”
    Andrews waved this irritably aside. “ Do you know where the Fondamenta Vittoria is, Mencken?”
    â€œNot for certain. In this area?”
    â€œNear the Arsenal. You’ll find Captain Bonini at number five. Be there at eleven to-morrow. He’ll be expecting you. Give in your name but don’t state your business until he comes. Report back here about six to-morrow. In the meantime I’ll have your passport. I’ll get it visaed for entry into Switzerland.”
    I put out the end of my cheroot. “ You expect me to return that way?”
    Andrews took my passport and stared at it. “ Not expect . We’d like you to return the way you came. But Switzerland is the nearest neutral if anything goes wrong.”
    Walking back to the hotel, I thought that I did not find either of my helpers congenial men. If only one of them had been like Colonel Brown. But charm is not essential for a secret agent; ruthlessness may be. In neither of these men, I thought, would scruples be a serious handicap.
    All the same I wished they had been more secretive, more serious about it all. They might have been talking a trade; they seemed casual, careless. I hoped this was a misconception, that they would be careful with their own lives