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name wouldn’t make any difference.
    ‘Perhaps,’ said Conrad. ‘He claims he is representing a group of German generals who intend to overthrow Hitler. Soon.’
    Theo nodded. He was thinking. Conrad let him. ‘And you are meeting him? Here in Holland?’
    Now it was Conrad’s turn to hesitate. But he had to trust Theo; he had already taken that decision. ‘Yes.’
    ‘And the British secret service sent you?’
    ‘Sir Robert Vansittart. Chief Diplomatic Adviser. Personally.’
    Van had been aware of the discussions with Theo’s co-conspirators and the British government before the Munich peace conference the year before, and Theo knew that.
    ‘I see.’ Theo studied Conrad. ‘I haven’t heard of this Schämmel. Which is a little strange. I have spent a lot of time in Holland recently.’
    ‘Is there an imminent plot?’
    Theo hesitated. Then he nodded.
    Conrad leaned forward. ‘When?’
    ‘Next week. The fifteenth of November to be precise. If the generals don’t lose their nerve.’
    Conrad felt a surge of excitement. ‘Which generals?’
    ‘Halder. And most of the others from last year.’
    ‘Halder is still Chief of the General Staff?’
    Theo nodded. ‘Hitler intends to launch an offensive through Holland and Belgium next week.’
    ‘Next week?’ Conrad was stunned by what Theo had just told him. The date of a major offensive. In a lot of people’s eyes that would be treachery of the highest order. He glanced at his friend. Theo knew what he was saying.
    ‘That will turn the Sitzkrieg into a real war,’ Theo said. ‘Nineteen fourteen all over again. The generals think the German people won’t like that. So it’s the right time to strike.’
    ‘So by next week Hitler will be overthrown and the war will be over?
    Theo grinned. ‘That’s the plan.’
    It sounded too good to be true.
    ‘Do you think they will go through with it?’ Conrad asked.
    ‘The offensive or the coup?’
    ‘Both,’ said Conrad.
    ‘The Führer seems determined not to be put off from the date of the offensive. As for the coup? Halder has let us down before. He said he would act if Hitler invaded Poland and he didn’t, so I can’t be sure he won’t let us down again. I hope he won’t. I have to believe he won’t.’
    ‘I hope to God he does act this time,’ said Conrad. ‘Does that mean it’s possible Halder could have sent someone to sound out the British government about peace terms if there is a coup?’
    ‘Yes, it’s possible. And I suppose it is possible I wouldn’t know about it. But I can find out.’
    ‘Ask Canaris?’
    Admiral Canaris, the Chief of the Abwehr, had given his behind-the-scenes support to the planned coup. He knew everything.
    Theo avoided answering the question directly. ‘I’ll have to go back to Berlin. I might not get you an answer for a couple of days.’
    ‘That’s all right. I expect there will be a number of meetings to discuss possible peace terms. Schämmel is supposed to be bringing one of the generals he is working for.’
    ‘Do you know who that is?’ asked Theo.
    ‘No. Schämmel hasn’t said yet. Which is understandable.’
    ‘I suppose so.’ Theo narrowed his eyes. ‘Are you going with Major Stevens?’
    ‘Who is Major Stevens?’
    ‘He’s the British Passport Control Officer in the Hague, which means he is in charge of the British secret service in the Netherlands. I know a lot about Major Stevens. In fact I know a lot about everyone who works for him, and the people who work in the British Embassy. Your whole Dutch operation is full of holes. You should be very careful.’ He frowned. ‘You haven’t told them about me, have you?’
    ‘No,’ said Conrad. ‘I haven’t met Major Stevens yet.’
    ‘Good. Best not to mention me at all, and if you do, give me a code name. Say I’m in the Luftwaffe and close to Göring. That should confuse them.’
    ‘You are asking me to confuse my own side?’
    ‘You bet,’ said Theo. ‘Because if you don’t,