Page 79 of The Last Library of Paris

‘What’s your poison?’ Valentine asked.

‘Gin,’ I said. ‘Please.’

‘Tonic?’

I nodded.

‘Grab a seat and I’ll bring them over.’

I had never been sent to the headmistress’s office at school, but I had seen the faces of girls who had and were forced to wait outside until she felt it was time to punish them. I felt a little like them now, as I watched Valentine buy the drinks.

He shared a few words and a laugh with the barman. I noted – just as Henry had pointed out – his easy way of getting along with everyone. I envied him that.

Then he picked up the glasses and brought them over, sitting down opposite me and looking at me carefully as he seemed to do often.

‘Cheers,’ he said, raising his glass to me.

Automatically I did the same, though I still wasn’t sure what was happening.

Valentine reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the documents and Parrish’s notebook. He put them both on the table in between us and rested his hand on top.

I winced.

‘How did you get those?’ I asked.

‘How do you know what they are?’

We glared at one another.

‘How did you get them?’ I said again. ‘Did Parrish hand them over?’

There was a beat of silence, then Valentine said: ‘I tripped him, he dropped them, I picked them up.’

It was so unexpected, I laughed. ‘Never fails.’

‘Never,’ said Valentine, still stony faced. ‘Your turn.’

‘I can explain.’

‘I’d like to hear it.’ He took a sip of his drink.

‘I’ve been helping process visa applications from refugees,’ I said, choosing my words carefully. ‘Pushing them through more quickly to get things moving.’

I took a swig of gin.

‘There was a Portuguese chap,’ I went on. ‘He was in Bordeaux and he was doing the same but with Portuguese visas.’

‘Alves,’ said Valentine, nodding. ‘I know about him.’

‘Then you’ll know that he was caught and ordered back to Lisbon. Some … friends of mine … they helped him process as many applications as they could before they had to stop. That’s what gave me the idea.’

‘How long have you been at it?’

‘Not long,’ I admitted. ‘A couple of weeks.’

‘And how many have you done?’ Valentine leafed through the documents in front of him. ‘There are at least twenty here.’

‘I don’t know,’ I lied.