homesick,’ said the Colonel. ‘And he has a great need to feel important.’
‘Then he shouldn’t have abdicated,’ said Veronica, ‘especially not in order to marry that dreadful American woman. Is it true, what they say about her links to the Nazis?’
The Colonel always knows the inside story, so he’s marvellous to have around when one wants a good long gossip – although both he and Veronica insist it’s not gossip, but serious political discussion. Another of today’s conversational subjects was Unity Mitford, who’s arrived here from Munich on a stretcher – too ‘ill’ to be arrested or interrogated, even though she’s an unequivocal Nazi.
‘One of the girls at work is convinced that Unity is pregnant,’ I said. ‘And that it’s Hitler’s baby.’
‘Nonsense,’ said the Colonel. ‘She shot herself in the head because she couldn’t bear to see England at war with Germany. I read the doctor’s report myself – it’s a wonder she survived. It’s her parents I feel sorry for.’
‘I know, how awful for them,’ I said. ‘I even feel a bit sorry for her . Imagine the desperate state of her mind, to do such a thing.’
‘Oh, honestly, Sophie!’ said Veronica impatiently. ‘She knew full well what she was doing, just as she did when she was running about declaring all the Jews ought to be thrown out of England. What infuriates me is that she and her Fascist sister and that revolting Mosley person remain at perfect liberty, while anti-Nazis like Daniel’s cousins are locked up on the Isle of Man!’
Daniel has just discovered that both his cousins were assessed by a tribunal last month and judged to be a security risk, because one of them had been a member of the Communist Party years ago, at university. They weren’t allowed the services of a lawyer or an interpreter at the hearing, and must have found it very difficult to protest their innocence in English, their third or fourth language. If only Daniel could have been there! And it’s such a waste , when they speak German and one of them’s a scientist – surely they could be helping with the war effort, if they were free.
‘I know it’s frustrating,’ said the Colonel. ‘But there’s a committee being set up to review cases like theirs. They will be released – it’s simply a matter of time. And I assure you, Unity Mitford is bedridden and in no state to answer any questions, let alone spy for the Nazis. I wouldn’t worry too much about the Mosleys, either – someone’s keeping a careful eye on them. And speaking of which . . .’
Veronica jumped up and began to clatter teacups onto the tray. ‘I think I’ll do the washing up now,’ she announced. ‘In the kitchen, by myself. I shall do it VERY LOUDLY.’ She marched off with a great rattle of china, and the Colonel chuckled.
‘I fear for your tea set,’ he said. ‘Perhaps I ought to arrange some remuneration for you, to cover breakages incurred as a consequence of security arrangements. So, what news?’
‘Well,’ I said, ‘I don’t know if this is worth much, but a girl at the American Embassy mentioned another clerk who’s hoping to be posted to Berlin soon. I hardly know him, though.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Mr Kent. He has one of those first names that sound like a last name, Taylor or Tyler, something like that. Sorry, but you know how difficult it is to hear anything at cocktail parties – especially when everyone’s talking American.’
‘Have you ever spoken with him?’
‘Only briefly. He’s about thirty, I suppose, well-dressed, very loud. I’ve heard him complaining about the British trying to drag America into “this hopeless war” – but really, half the Embassy staff feel that way. He could just have been trying to ingratiate himself with Mr Kennedy. He’s quite new, only arrived here a couple of months ago.’
‘That is interesting,’ said the Colonel slowly. ‘Was his last position in Moscow, by any
‘Then he shouldn’t have abdicated,’ said Veronica, ‘especially not in order to marry that dreadful American woman. Is it true, what they say about her links to the Nazis?’
The Colonel always knows the inside story, so he’s marvellous to have around when one wants a good long gossip – although both he and Veronica insist it’s not gossip, but serious political discussion. Another of today’s conversational subjects was Unity Mitford, who’s arrived here from Munich on a stretcher – too ‘ill’ to be arrested or interrogated, even though she’s an unequivocal Nazi.
‘One of the girls at work is convinced that Unity is pregnant,’ I said. ‘And that it’s Hitler’s baby.’
‘Nonsense,’ said the Colonel. ‘She shot herself in the head because she couldn’t bear to see England at war with Germany. I read the doctor’s report myself – it’s a wonder she survived. It’s her parents I feel sorry for.’
‘I know, how awful for them,’ I said. ‘I even feel a bit sorry for her . Imagine the desperate state of her mind, to do such a thing.’
‘Oh, honestly, Sophie!’ said Veronica impatiently. ‘She knew full well what she was doing, just as she did when she was running about declaring all the Jews ought to be thrown out of England. What infuriates me is that she and her Fascist sister and that revolting Mosley person remain at perfect liberty, while anti-Nazis like Daniel’s cousins are locked up on the Isle of Man!’
Daniel has just discovered that both his cousins were assessed by a tribunal last month and judged to be a security risk, because one of them had been a member of the Communist Party years ago, at university. They weren’t allowed the services of a lawyer or an interpreter at the hearing, and must have found it very difficult to protest their innocence in English, their third or fourth language. If only Daniel could have been there! And it’s such a waste , when they speak German and one of them’s a scientist – surely they could be helping with the war effort, if they were free.
‘I know it’s frustrating,’ said the Colonel. ‘But there’s a committee being set up to review cases like theirs. They will be released – it’s simply a matter of time. And I assure you, Unity Mitford is bedridden and in no state to answer any questions, let alone spy for the Nazis. I wouldn’t worry too much about the Mosleys, either – someone’s keeping a careful eye on them. And speaking of which . . .’
Veronica jumped up and began to clatter teacups onto the tray. ‘I think I’ll do the washing up now,’ she announced. ‘In the kitchen, by myself. I shall do it VERY LOUDLY.’ She marched off with a great rattle of china, and the Colonel chuckled.
‘I fear for your tea set,’ he said. ‘Perhaps I ought to arrange some remuneration for you, to cover breakages incurred as a consequence of security arrangements. So, what news?’
‘Well,’ I said, ‘I don’t know if this is worth much, but a girl at the American Embassy mentioned another clerk who’s hoping to be posted to Berlin soon. I hardly know him, though.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Mr Kent. He has one of those first names that sound like a last name, Taylor or Tyler, something like that. Sorry, but you know how difficult it is to hear anything at cocktail parties – especially when everyone’s talking American.’
‘Have you ever spoken with him?’
‘Only briefly. He’s about thirty, I suppose, well-dressed, very loud. I’ve heard him complaining about the British trying to drag America into “this hopeless war” – but really, half the Embassy staff feel that way. He could just have been trying to ingratiate himself with Mr Kennedy. He’s quite new, only arrived here a couple of months ago.’
‘That is interesting,’ said the Colonel slowly. ‘Was his last position in Moscow, by any
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