We'll meet again

"Dorabella, you know something, don't you? Something you're holding back.”

"I know my baby is taken "We all know that. But there is something else. Come on. You know you could never keep anything from me.”

I began to cry silently and she put her arm round me.

"It's always better when we share," she said. She was right. It always had been. Some of those difficulties had seemed gigantic when they loomed before me, and then my sister had come in with her calm common sense and straightened them out.

"If I tell you...”

I heard her breathe deeply and I knew that I had gone too far to turn back now.

"Yes," she prompted. "When you tell me ...”

"You won't do anything unless I agree. Promise that.”

"I promise.”

"I have become rather friendly with Captain Brent.”

"I know.”

"You know!”

"My dear Dorabella, it was obvious. Those prolonged jaunts into town.

The way you looked at each other. I am not blind, you know, particularly where you are concerned.”

"I had a note from them.”

"From whom?”

"The kidnappers.”

"When? Where is it? Why didn't you say?”

I told her how it had been brought to my room by one of the maids and that it had been lying on the hall table.

"How did it get there? Go on ... what did it say?”

I told her.

"Where is it?”

"They took it from me when I went there." I told her exactly what had happened, and I saw the shocked disbelief dawn on her face.

"This is terrible, Dorabella.”

"I must get Tristan safe.”

"I wouldn't have thought of anything like this. What on earth have you got caught up in?”

"You see, don't you, that I have to find that little box. I have to take it to them. I have to go alone and get Tristan.”

"It is obviously of tremendous importance for them to go to such lengths. You can't do it.”

"I must, I must.”

She said slowly: "The burglary Charley saw... they must have been looking for this box.”

"I think that must have been so.”

"These are dangerous people. They are the enemy. It's the only explanation I can think of. They can't go back to the house to try again because the police have been alerted. I've always guessed that Captain Brent's job was not merely to keep an eye on the soldiers.

He must be involved in secret work of some kind, and this box doubtless has something to do with it. And as they can't make another attempt at burglary, you, as the captain's friend, can go into the captain's house unquestioned. You can depend on it that your close relationship is no secret. Therefore you can bring out the box and in exchange get your child.”

"How could they know...?”

"These people make it their business to know everything that might be of importance. You must have been watched.”

"Oh, Violetta!" I cried. "I'm glad I told you. What am I going to do?”

"There is only one thing you can do.”

"I must save Tristan.”

"You can't trust these people.”

"I have to. I have to get my baby.”

"You cannot do it that way, Dorabella. You will betray our country.

That box is obviously important. How do you know that, by stealing it, you might not help to kill thousands of our people?”

"But what of Tristan?”

"There are clever people who could be working on this.”

"It is straightforward. I give them the box and they hand over Tristan.”

"There is no guarantee that they will give him to you. You cannot do it' Dorabella. Gordon ... Captain Brent... they will know the best way to handle this. Tristan will be safer if we work through them.

Captain Brent must know. He will understand the importance of this box." My head was throbbing. I was telling myself now that I had been a fool to tell her. I should have known she would have taken it this way. There was only one thought which was going round and round in my mind: I must save Tristan. I would do anything... anything for that.

We were silent for a while. Violetta took my hand and held it firmly.

She was fully aware of my thoughts.

Then she said: "We've always come through difficulties working together. After all, two heads are better than one.”

I nodded.

"I know what we must do," she went on.

"What?”

"This is too important for us to handle alone. They might not give you Tristan, whatever you did.”

"I have to trust them. What else can I do?”

"Would you trust such people?”

"I have to do anything to get Tristan back. We have to make sure that we do get him.”

"Dorabella, this is more important than you realize.”

"More important than I realize! It is the most important thing on earth to me. Those people don't want to hurt Tristan. They are just using him to get what they want. When they do... they'll give him up.”

"That may be, but you can't be sure. We know so little about this.

This is what I suggest. We tell Gordon what has happened.”

"Gordon!”

"He will know what to do. He has connections with the army through the Home Guard. Captain Brent must know what is happening. He will be aware of the importance of this box. He will know why they are so eager to get it. It must be of great importance for them to go to such lengths and expose themselves to danger. Be reasonable, Dorabella.