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and about her mouth now furrowed her features.
    Although relieved of his sudden fear that he had fallen into a trap, he was still on delicate ground; for he had yet to make certain that it was she who had sent the information about Peenemünde to Sweden. So, having commiserated with her on her husband’s death, he went on cautiously, ‘It is not for us to question the Führer’s wisdom, but one cannot help feeling that the sacrifices he demands have become almost unbearable.’
    â€˜You are right,
Herr Major
,’ she agreed bitterly. ‘Had my husband been killed while marching against France that would have been one thing; but for him to have died last winter in the snows of Russia is quite another. In
Mein Kampf
the Führer declared that never again should the German people be called on to fight a war on two fronts, and in that he betrayed them.’
    To declare that Hitler had betrayed his people was a very dangerous thing to do, particularly when speaking to a person one had only just met; so Gregory assumed that she was giving him a cue and replied:
    â€˜Hitler having gone into Russia before he finished with Britain can end only in our defeat. Personally, I take the view that anyone who now does what he can to thwart the Nazis, so that war may be brought to an end before Germany is utterly ruined, would be acting in the best interests of our country.’
    His words amounted to unequivocal treason, and S.O.E.’s briefing was not always reliable. If, after all, she was not the source from which they had received information, and her outburst had been caused only by resentment at the loss of her husband, she might quite well denounce him.
    The forged papers he carried were adequate for all ordinary purposes, but the identity he had assumed could not stand up to investigation. German thoroughness in keeping records would soon disclose that there was no such person as Major Helmuth Bodenstein. If she turned him over to the police his mission would be at an end before it had properly begun. But he had known that sooner or later in their conversation, if he were to get anywhere with her he must offer her a lead and take the risk that he had been misinformed about her. Having made his gamble, with his heart beating a shade faster, he waited for her reaction.
    For a moment her grey eyes remained inscrutable, then she said in a low voice, ‘I was right then in assuming that you did not wish to meet me only to enquire about fishing?’
    He nodded. ‘Yes. There are other matters of interest up here in Pomerania about which I am hoping you may be able to tell me.’
    At that moment the waiter brought her drink. She swallowed half of it at a gulp, then asked, ‘Such as?’
    â€˜Such as that about which some weeks ago you sent a report by a Polish officer to Sweden.’
    She gave a little gasp and looked round nervously. ‘How … how do you know about that?’
    â€˜Through a certain Embassy.’
    â€˜In your letter you mentioned having friends in the Turkish Embassy, but it could not have been through them?’
    â€˜No. I put that in only to act as cover for both of us should my letter have fallen into wrong hands.’
    Fumbling for another cigarette she lit it from the one she was smoking; then her voice came in a whisper, ‘You are, then, a British agent?’
    Gregory nodded. ‘Yes, I have been sent here specially to contact you and ask your help in securing more exact particulars about these, er, long cigars.’
    With a swift movement she gulped down the rest of her brandy, then she said, ‘Can I have another? I must have time to think.’
    Catching the waiter’s eye, Gregory pointed at their empty glasses. Turning back to her, he said very quietly, ‘In this our interests are mutual. You cannot wish the war to go on until millions more Germans are killed on the battlefields or blown to pieces in their homes by bombs; and