Sibyl and Margaux had a code, by which Sibyl could request a pick-up. She was to go to a public phone booth and dial Margaux’s number. With that in mind, the next morning she dialled Margaux’ number, and when Margaux picked up, she said, ‘Bonjour, Madame. Do not forget it is Aunt Blanche’s birthday on Tuesday. We are expecting a delivery of pinot gris.’

‘Bien sûr,’ was the answer. ‘We have the order in writing and the crate will be delivered at four.’

That afternoon, at four, Sibyl waited at the usual meeting place. Margaux was five minutes late, by which time Sibyl’s insides were a hive of bees. They packed her bicycle into the van, Sibyl joined the bicycle in the back, and Margaux drove off. They had decided that it was not safe for Sibyl to be on the passenger’s seat in the cabin; Margaux had been stopped three times in the last month, asked for ID. The back of the van had never been searched.

Once at the château, Sibyl made an emergency call to Acrobat; she managed to give a concise account of von Haagen’s news.

‘Apparently they are using their very strongest forces and will fight to the death,’ she reported. ‘Army Group G, under General Balck.’

‘Very good. Excellent. This is the kind of report we’ve been hoping for. We expect more of the same and have made a contingency plan: you are to be given a pianist of your own, Acrobat One. We will be dropping the agent in as soon as possible; please arrange a place and date. It’s all arranged from this side.’

‘A pianist?’

‘Yes. You’ll have a pianist. You are to be concerned only with gathering information. The MI6 is in on this. They know about you and von Haagen. You need back-up. Do you have a courier?’

‘I suppose, well, Marg…’

‘No names, please. We get it. Over and out.’

‘Wait… wait… there’s more…’

She wanted to tell Acrobat about Himmler, about the supposed death camps for Jews, but it was too late. Acrobat had signed off. She sighed and returned downstairs to Margaux.

‘It seems, Margaux, that Acrobat Circuit is finally taking shape. I’m to get a pianist – a wireless operator – and it seems you are to be the courier.’

She gave Margaux a summary of the conversation with von Haagen, more detailed than the one she had given Acrobat. She described his tears, his breakdown, his belief that he might be killed. ‘He asked me to pray for him, Margaux, and I promised to do so!’

‘Well, it’s a promise you’ll have to keep. One does not promise such a thing in vain.’

‘But, but how? How can I pray for Germany to win?’

‘That’s not what he asked you to do. He asked you to pray for him. For his eternal soul. For his salvation. So, even if he is killed, his sins will be forgiven, hopefully. That you can do. You must do it.’

‘I will.’

‘But you must also pray for Jacques. We heard from Jacques yesterday. You will never believe where he is – he is in Strasbourg!’

‘In Strasbourg! What is he doing there?’

‘Jacques has joined the General de Gaulle’s France Libre Army; they have been conscripting volunteer Resistance fighters. All of Jacques maquisards have also joined up. What’s more, France Free has joined forces with the regular army, the French 2nd Armoured Division under General Leclerc. And both these armies have joined with the Americans Seventh Army to defend Alsace and free Strasbourg. Sibyl, it looks as if your two lovers will be fighting against each other for the liberation of Alsace! Now, what do you say to that!’