Two late nights had left them both with a backlog of tiredness. Their breathing became slower and heavier; Hughs mind slid sideways into a waking dream. Suddenly he jerked awake.
Id better go.
Megs arms tightened around him. Stay for a bit longer, Hugh. Youre lovely and warm.
Just another minute.
This time sleep enveloped them both completely. Hugh dreamed that he and Hiawatha were at Buckingham Palace, receiving medals from the King. Neither of them heard the slam of the front door when Stephen came in, or the movements downstairs as he and their parents prepared for bed.
Neither of them heard anything at all until Megs door was flung open and her room was flooded with light.
A quite extraordinary thing happened just before breakfast: the telephone rang.
Alfred Kendall was upstairs in Hughs room at the time. He broke off in mid-sentence and hurried downstairs. But Muriel got to the dining room first and he was forced to listen to one incomprehensible side of the conversation which ensued. Meanwhile, the smell of burning bacon grew stronger.
Ill come at once, Muriel said; her voice was unusually decisive. Meg can pack for me and come over later with the suitcase.
Who was that? Kendall demanded before his wife had time to replace the receiver. Where are you going?
She pushed past him into the smoke-filled kitchen and turned off the gas ring.
It was Bunnings, dear. Aunt Vida had one of her turns in the night. A minor stroke, probably.
The same thing had happened last year. Aunt Vida refused to go into hospital and Muriel had spent two weeks in Richmond looking after her.
Kendall grunted. Youll have to go, of course.
It was damned inconvenient but he had no alternative. He knew what women were like: Vida was quite capable of leaving her money to a home for sick parrots, just to spite him; and she would as well, if she felt the Kendalls werent giving her the attention she deserved. He also suspected though he barely admitted the suspicion to himself that Muriel would go to Richmond whatever he said.
I dont know how long Ill have to stay. But Meg will look after you shes quite a good little cook now. Besides, youll get your main meal at lunchtime.
What about Hugh?
Hell have to look after himself during the day. She avoided his eyes and wiped her hands on the apron. After all, youll be there in the evenings.
Mr Stanhope-Smith? The voice sounded doubtful.
Michael looked up. Kendall hovered over him with an anxious smile on his face. Obviously he had been expecting a man of his own age.
Captain Kendall? Michael stood up, his hand outstretched. How dyou do? He hadnt described himself over the phone; he had merely said that he would be sitting alone at a table near the band in the Coventry Street Lyons, with a copy of The Times open at the crossword but upside down, in front of him.
They sat down and Michael passed him the menu.
I havent ordered yet. I dont know what youd like to drink. I dont think much of their wine list but they certainly know how to keep their Bass.
He steered the conversation into neutral channels until their food arrived. Kendall said little at first, but Michael persevered; he listened in deferential silence as his guest gave his opinions about the state of the weather and the deficiencies of modern youth. By the time the soup arrived, Kendalls nervousness had evaporated and he was giving Michael the benefit of his views on the servant problem.
He sucked noisily at his soup. I blame the war, you know, he confided. It gave the working classes a grossly inflated view of their own value.
Michael seized the opportunity to introduce another topic. Sir Basil tells me you were in the Pay Corps, sir.
Kendall nodded. They also serve, eh? Of course I applied to be sent to France, time and time again. They always turned me down on the grounds I was more useful where I was.
Of course. Michael tried to look sympathetic. Then he abandoned finesse. Youre probably wondering why I asked Sir Basil to arrange for me to meet you.
Kendall laid down his soup spoon. He said it was something of national importance.
Perhaps I should explain, sir. But I must stress that what Im going to say is completely confidential and must remain so. Im connected with the Foreign Office and I have a proposition for you. If you decline it, which of course you may, I must ask for your word that you will immediately forget this meeting has taken place.
You can rely on my discretion entirely, Mr Stanhope-Smith.
Then may I begin by asking you a few questions?
Kendall nodded gravely. He sat up straight in his chair and wiped his moustache with his napkin.
Michael cleared his throat to conceal his desire to smile. Do you make regular visits to Czechoslovakia on business?
Until very recently, Ive been going two or three times a year. Bohemian glass is my bread and butter, you understand and my fathers before me. Kendall chewed his lower lip. But I dont mind telling you that fellow Hitlers made my life damned awkward in the last few months. Im thinking very seriously of taking my business elsewhere.
But even now, if you were to visit Czechoslovakia for a week or two, it would hardly seem strange to the authorities there?
Not at all. Kendall looked away. In fact, I wish I could afford to do so. One or two of my contracts have been cancelled recently. Ive a feeling that, if I could see the people concerned on the spot, I might be able to get them to reconsider their decisions. At least Id have a sporting chance.
Do you speak Czech?
I can get by both in Czech and German.
Michael nodded. Excellent. Now you dont mind me asking what your views are on Hitler, do you?
Kendall shrugged. Why should I? At first I thought these Fascists had a lot of good ideas. Look at Mussolini, for example at least hes made Italian trains run on time. Their methods seem to get results. But after the Anschluss, I began to change my mind. Only a fool would think that Hitler means to stop with Austria and the Sudetenland. Churchills right: the only argument the Boche respect is cold steel.
Quite so. Michael paused while the waiter brought his lamb cutlets and Kendalls steak. The interruption gave him time to consider his tactics. It would be better not to mention the money, he thought, not at this stage. He was able to fit Kendall into a category now: the warlike attitude was often found in men of his generation who had done no actual fighting in the Great War; the bitterness of combat was an abstraction to them, as it was to Michael himself.
Kendall waggled his fork in Michaels direction. Mark my words, we shall be at war before the end of the year, whatever that fool Chamberlain thinks. My eldest boy is joining the Territorials already. Ive always said
The more preparations we can make beforehand, the better our chances will be, Michael cut in. You agree?
Of course. If only
And preparations have to take place right across the board. We at the FO, for example, are not concerned with the purely military aspect, naturally. Our fundamental purpose is to gather information from abroad. In wartime, the purpose remains the same but the ah methods of collection have to be adapted to meet the circumstances. Particularly in those countries where we can have no formal diplomatic representation.
And preparations have to take place right across the board. We at the FO, for example, are not concerned with the purely military aspect, naturally. Our fundamental purpose is to gather information from abroad. In wartime, the purpose remains the same but the ah methods of collection have to be adapted to meet the circumstances. Particularly in those countries where we can have no formal diplomatic representation.
Michael chewed a mouthful of lamb, covertly watching Kendalls face. The man looked as if he nourished his inner self on a diet of John Buchan and Sapper: surely he wouldnt be able to miss such an obvious appeal to pick up a cloak and dagger for his country?
Kendall stiffened in his seat; his nostrils flared. Does this mean you work for the
Its better not to mention names, Michael said quickly. Even in private. This was one of Danseys recruiting principles: that one should leave as much as possible to the recruits imagination.
What do you want me to do?
Michael leaned forward. Our concern is to establish channels of communication which will remain open when the usual ones are closed. At present we need someone to act as a courier to take a small package to someone at the other end and to bring back something else. It may be just the one time or there may be others. Youll appreciate that its difficult to be definite in these matters. Theres no risk involved, but its vital that the courier should be a man whom we can trust absolutely and who has a cast-iron reason for going there in the first place.
Kendall gave a little grunt of satisfaction. Michael decided that, if one was going to lay on flattery, there was no point in being niggardly about it.
When I consulted Sir Basil, yours was the first name he mentioned. As he spoke, Michael wished he could afford the luxury of a job where lying was not part of the stock in trade. Try Kendall, Cohen had said. Hes a wretched little man, but hell fit your bill.
Could I have a day or two to think things over?
Michael shook his head. Im sorry, Captain Kendall. Time is the one thing we havent got. I need a decision now. If you turn it down, Ill try someone else. I must get a man in Prague by the weekend.
Michaels bluff partly succeeded: Kendall looked faintly aggrieved at the thought that there might be other candidates for the job.
Would you be able to leave at such short notice?
My passport and visas are all in order, if thats what you mean. And it wouldnt take long to tie up any loose ends at the office. But there is one problem
If you accept our offer, we would naturally take care of your expenses. Michael smiled apologetically. And we usually make some sort of token payment for such services.
Kendall sawed violently at his steak. I dont deny the money would be useful. But its not that. You see my wife had to go away this morning to nurse an aunt of hers. Going to Prague this weekend would mean leaving my younger son alone. I cant do that: hes ah hes not at school at present.
There was a curious inflection in Kendalls voice and it puzzled Michael. It was almost as if the man was afraid of what his son might do if left alone, rather than of what might happen to him.
I deeply regret, Kendall said through a mouthful of pink meat, that I may have to decline your offer.
The solution to the difficulty suddenly occurred to Michael. It would remove Kendalls little difficulty at a stroke and it might even increase his professional cover in Czechoslovakia. Dansey could hardly object.
He took a long swallow of his beer and wiped his mouth with his napkin. He waited until Kendalls jaws had stopped moving.
I suppose theres no reason why you shouldnt take the boy with you.
Three
For Gods sake! Kendall snapped. The Czech matron at the next table looked curiously at them. He lowered his voice to a hiss. Has no one ever told you that its rude to stare?
Hugh looked away from the crowd in the hotel foyer. The sight of his sons bowed head brought Kendalls exasperation to the boil: at that moment he could have willingly strangled the boy. He lit another cigarette from the stub of the old and glanced once again towards the revolving door which led to Vaclavske Namesti. Everyone in Prague seemed to be here except the man he wanted.
The presence of Hugh was only part of the reason for his irritation, but he was a convenient focus for Kendalls discontent. Hugh was simply not to be trusted: he was a thief and a liar; and after Sunday night Kendall had begun to suspect that he was something worse as well.
His mind shied away from the memory of finding his son in his daughters bed. It seemed to Kendall that whenever he closed his eyes he was doomed to relive that instant when he turned on Megs light.
Two heads, one fair, one dark, on the same pillow.
According to Hugh, he had crawled into bed with her to get warm; and she had been so soundly asleep that she hadnt woken up. According to Meg, on the other hand, she was the one who had been cold; and shed persuaded him to come to bed with her.
Kendall had beaten them both: they were lying; they were conspiring against him; they were breaking his rule forbidding one child to go into anothers bedroom. He felt instinctively that Hugh must have taken the initiative after all, he was the boy. The top of Megs nightdress was unbuttoned. It looked almost as if Hughs hand was inside, resting on her breasts.
The thought was monstrous and Kendall tried to push it away. But one thing was clear: Hugh needed strict and constant discipline. Kendall could not risk leaving him in Twickenham while he was away. Meg would have been completely at his mercy.
After they returned from Prague, he would have to find a long-term solution to the problem of Hugh. It was as if the boy had a highly contagious disease: it was imperative to isolate him from the rest of the family. Kendall wondered whether the merchant navy might be a possibility.
He pulled out his watch: it was nearly three oclock. He suspected that Stanhope-Smiths man was going to let him down again. It would be the third time. Stanhope-Smith had told him to wait in the foyer of the Hotel Palacky for an hour after lunch and an hour after dinner, until the contact made his approach.
The big glass door revolved. Cold air swept into the lobby. Kendall swore under his breath as three women filed in.
Cant you sit up straight? he said to Hugh. Dont slouch.
Smim si pripalit? said a husky voice behind him.
Kendall swung around. His eyes widened when he saw that it was a woman. She was short and her plumpness was accentuated by a heavy fur coat with an upturned collar; she had a snout-like snub nose and a faint but distinct moustache. At first Kendall thought her words must be a coincidence. But then he saw that she was tapping the butt of her cigarette against a silver case. The case was angled towards him so he could see the design of four interlocking lozenges engraved on the side.
Prosim, he muttered politely, fumbling in his waistcoat pocket. His fingers shook slightly as he opened the silver matchcase. He nearly forgot to let her see the lozenges on its lid.
What is your room number? she murmured in English just before the match touched the tip of the cigarette.