Page 9 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Things change,’ said Digby. ‘There is a war on.’

‘Oh, come on,’ I said, losing my patience. ‘Who is this man really? Is he part of Section D? What will he be working on?’ There was a pleading tone to my voice that sounded annoying even to my own ears. ‘Can I help?’

‘Cassie, I’m sorry, but it’s too soon,’ Digby said. ‘Just stick it out in clerical for a while longer …’

‘I am a terrible typist,’ I snapped. ‘People are starting to notice. Why you couldn’t have found me a role as a bloody translator doing something I’m good at, I don’t know.’

‘Look,’ Digby said mildly. ‘I would much rather you were working for me, than typing letters, but the rules are the rules.’

‘Can I be assessed?’ I asked. ‘Who decides? I really am fine.’ I felt a small prickle of disloyalty. ‘Well, I’m not fine, obviously; my brother died. But it won’t affect my work. Not one bit. In fact, it makes me keener to end this war, and make the Nazis pay for their actions.’

Digby turned away from the window and pointed at me with his pen. ‘Which might encourage you to take unnecessary risks,’ he said. He sounded like he was reciting something he’d read many times. ‘Bereaved agents could become reckless, putting lives and missions in danger.’

‘Who will decide?’ I asked, pacified a little to realise he’d been checking the rules – clearly more than once.

‘I will,’ said Digby. ‘But London won’t let me file the report until twenty-one days have passed.’

‘I might die.’ I put my hand to my forehead in dramatic fashion. ‘I might actually expire through sheer tedium.’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake.’

‘Lara says it’s a waste of my talents.’

‘It’s none of Lara’s business.’ Digby looked at me with a sudden frown. ‘How do you know about the new vice-consul?’

‘Penny told me.’

‘Well, I never,’ said Digby. ‘Perhaps we should recruit her?’

‘She’s an awful gossip.’

He grinned. ‘Perhaps not then.’

I slid off the desk and went to stand in front of him.

‘You put a lot of effort into training me,’ I said, drawing myself up to my full height, which was still considerably shorter than Digby. ‘So as soon as those twenty-one days are up, I want to be back in Section D.’

‘You sounded quite threatening there for a minute,’ Digby said.

‘Digby …’

‘I’ve got it marked on my calendar.’

‘Fine,’ I said. ‘Good. But please find some translation for me to do in the meantime. Maybe the new vice-consul will need some help. Not many people know Portuguese when they first arrive …’

‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘Good,’ I said again. ‘I suppose I’ll get back to clerical, then.’ I was hoping he’d say no, but he just nodded.

‘Best get on.’ He went over to his desk, sat down and picked up a folder, reading whatever was inside with a frown. I watched him for a few seconds, wondering if he’d say something else. But he didn’t.

A little put out, I slouched out of the office and back to my typewriter.

I spent the afternoon thinking about the new vice-consul and also stewing over Lara. I’d barely seen her since I’d been back. She was busy. All the time. It was almost as annoying as Digby gatekeeping Section D.

I decided I’d go to the bookshop and see if she was working today – she divided her time between the shop and the British Bar. I wanted to have a moan about Digby and this new vice-consul and Lara was always a sympathetic ear.

As the clock finally ticked round to the end of the day, I put the cover on my typewriter, and eager to catch her before the shop shut, got a tram up the hill. I checked my surroundings before I went in, of course, wondering again why Lara had been so worried about that.