Chapter 2 Chapter One

Just after midnight on May 28, 1939, a well-dressed young man and his girlfriend walked into Pierre's restaurant.This restaurant is very famous among gourmets, next to the Place de Gralon in Paris.He sat down at an empty table and began to order: "Emile, give us some platters. Another glass of shrimp tail soup and mushroom tenderloin. How about a glass of jacques after dinner?" Aged and gray-haired.He smiled and looked at the guest with concern.He had known Thomas Levin for several years.Beside Thomas sat a pretty girl with shiny black hair and a pair of happy doll eyes in an oval face.Her name is Mimi Sambe. "We're hungry, Emile! We've just finished the play, by Shakespeare, with Jean-Louis Barru."

"I recommend that you eat smoked frogfish on hot bread instead of cold cuts. Shakespeare is tiring, sir." They smiled knowingly.So the waiter went to the kitchen.The restaurant is a long, dimly lit hall, pleasantly preserved in its antique decor.Mi Mi is an actress, slim and petite, always wearing heavy makeup, even when she wakes up in the morning, she is busy putting on makeup.Thomas has known her for two years.He smiled at Mimi, took a deep breath and said, "Ah, Paris! You are the only city where you can still live. My little darling, we can have a pleasant few weeks together..."

"I'm so glad you're starting to be happy again. Darling, you're so distracted at night, sometimes in German, sometimes in French or English. All three languages ​​mixed together. But I only understand you in French." If so, is there something wrong with your passport?" "Why do you think so?" "You keep talking about deportation and applying for residence permits and so on. There are many Germans living in Paris at the moment, and they are worrying about their passports..." He moved and kissed her fingertips: "Don't worry about it. I've just been in a little trouble, nothing really unpleasant!" He spoke in an unquestionable tone, as if he himself believed his words to be true.He went on: "Somebody's going to set me up, you know? I've been cheated again. Injustice, though it sometimes drags on for a long time, never lasts forever. I've got a brilliant one now." Lawyer. I'm going to rest with you for a while until someone makes an apology to me."

At this time, the host Emil came over. "Mr. Levin, there are two gentlemen looking for you outside." Thomas looked up unsuspectingly, and there were two men in untidy military raincoats standing at the door and greeting him awkwardly.Thomas stood up and said, "I'll be right back, my little one." He went to the door: "Gentlemen, what can you do for me?" One of them said, "Sir, let's go to Miss Sombey's house." It's over, we're police officers. We're sorry we have to arrest you." "What law have I committed?" Thomas asked softly.He had meant to laugh. "You'll see." Thomas thought the nightmare wasn't over yet.Then he said kindly: "Gentlemen, you are French. You know what a crime it is to interrupt a good dinner. May I ask you to wait a moment until I have finished my meal before arresting me?" The two officers hesitated. "Can we give the boss a call?" one of them asked.Thomas agreed.The man walked into the booth and turned back quickly: "Okay, sir. Our head has just one request."

"What request?" "He asked if he could come and dine with you. And he said anything was negotiable as long as there was something good to eat." "Okay. But who is he, if I may ask?" They gave Thomas the name.Thomas walked back to the dining table, called the older waiter over and said, "Emil, I have another guest waiting, please prepare the third tableware." Mimi smiled and asked, "Who is coming?" "A colonel named Simon." "Oh." Mi Mi went against her usual habits, and this time she only uttered one word. Colonel Jules Simon was a pleasant gentleman.He had a neatly trimmed mustache, a Roman nose, and alert, mocking eyes.The Colonel greeted Thomas respectfully and Mimi with the casualness of an old acquaintance, which disturbed Thomas a little, and they chatted old Parisian talk over dinner.When the mushroom tenderloin was served, Colonel Simon became serious: "Mr. Levin, I beg your pardon for disturbing us late at night, even at dinner. The tenderloin is deep-fried, don't you think? I received a message from the superior. order. We have been looking for you all day!"

"Oh," he said, "exactly. The tenderloin is good, Colonel. You people here know how to make it, just fry it twice. Yes, it's a real French dish. . . " Thomas put a A hand rested on Mi Mi's arm.The colonel was smiling.Thomas thought he liked the colonel more and more.The colonel said: "But you didn't stay in Paris just because of the good cooking here. We have people in Cologne and London too. We know what you've been through with that venerable Major Ross. Do you get angry at every turn?" "Mr. Levin," continued the colonel, "I sympathize with you. You love France, you love French cooking. But we must carry out orders. We must deport you. Mr. Levin, you are very sorry for us who are being attacked by foreigners." The poor country that is threatening is too dangerous. We will escort you out of the country tonight. From now on, you will never be allowed to set foot on French soil..." Thomas laughed.Mimi glanced at him.For the first time since Thomas had known her, she didn't immediately laugh with him.Adding some mushrooms to his plate, the colonel said, "Unless, Mr. Levine, you'd like to turn your back on us and do something for us." Thomas stood up, thinking I couldn't be so drunk!So he asked softly: "You suggest that I work for the French Secret Intelligence Service? And in front of Mademoiselle Sombey?"

"Why not? Honey." Mimi said softly.At the same time, she kissed Thomas on the cheek: "I also work in this bureau." "You are..." Thomas swallowed halfway through.Holding a glass of red wine, the colonel asked in a tentative tone: "Mr. Levin, are you willing to do something for us?" Thomas looked at the charming and lovely Mimi and the polite Simon.Look at the delicacies on the table again.Thomas figured to himself that there seemed to be no other way for me to go.My view of the world was wrong.I must change my life if I don't want to be destroyed in the madness of the tide.And it must be said and changed!Mimi's voice sounded in his ears again: "Hey, dear. Be obedient! Let's do it together, we will have a happy life!" Simon's voice also echoed in his ears: "Sir, have you made a decision yet?" ?”

First the German counterintelligence service, then the Military Intelligence Service, and now the "Second Service".Everything happened within ninety-six hours.Thomas thought that four days ago I was living in London, a respectable citizen, and an accomplished private banker.Who would have believed me to be like this?Who in the club would believe any of this? Thomas Levine smoothed his short-cropped black hair with his slender fingers and said: "My situation seems hopeless, but it's nothing special. I eat and drink and do nothing. Look, what a historic event." time, Emile!" The old waiter hurried over: "We have reason to celebrate, please bring some champagne!" Mimi kissed her friend tenderly, and asked the colonel: "He is so cute, isn't he?"

"Sir, I admire the position you have taken," said Simon. "I am very pleased that you are willing to work for us." "It's not that I want to, but that there is no other way!" "It's one thing!" said Thomas. "I just don't know what use I'd be to you." "You are a banker." "So what?" Simon blinked and said, "Miss told me that you are very smart and capable." "Mimi," Thomas said to the petite actor with jet-black hair and cheerful eyes, "how dare you!" "Miss is doing this for the cause of the nation, she is an amazing woman!"

"I agree. You can make a correct assessment of that, Mr. Colonel." "I assure you as an officer." Mimi and Simon said at the same time: "But my dear, it was a long time before you." Then they stopped talking and laughed.Mimi clung to Thomas.She fell in love with this man with all her heart.This is a man who can play tricks under a mask of honesty and reliability, and his dealings with people are superficially rigid like those of an old-fashioned English gentleman.In fact, however, he was smarter and more attractive than any man Mimi had ever known. "A long time before me," said Thomas Levin. "Ah, yes. Well... Monsieur Colonel, you mean that I can consider myself a financial adviser to the French secret police?"

"Exactly, sir. You will be assigned a special mission." "Before the champagne arrives," said Thomas, "let me hurry up and say a few more frank words. Although I am relatively young, I already have certain principles. If you think that these principles are not compatible with my future work If so, then please don't think about me." "And what is your principle, sir?" "I refuse to wear a military uniform, Colonel. You may find it incomprehensible. I shoot no one. I don't want to terrorize or arrest anyone. I don't torture anyone. I don't harm or rob anyone— Unless it's within the bounds of my profession, but only if I insist the other party deserves it." "Don't worry, sir, you can be true to your principles. It is only your brain that interests us." Emile sent champagne.They drank champagne.The colonel said, "But I must insist that you must attend the espionage training course. It is a requirement of our profession! There are many tricks here that you still don't know. I hope to see you come to our training camp as soon as possible." "But don't talk about it tonight, Jules." Mimi stroked Thomas Levin's hand tenderly and said, "He knows enough tonight..." Early in the morning on May 30, 1939, two men came and took Thomas Levine away from his girlfriend.These two men wore cheap ready-made clothes and unpressed trousers. They were low-level spies with meager allowances.Thomas was wearing a single-breasted gray-and-black thin check coat.White shirt, black tie, black hat, and black leather shoes.Naturally, he took his beloved timepiece and a small suitcase with him.The two serious men put Thomas on a truck.Thomas wanted to look out but found that the stretched canvas awning completely concealed the carriage.Five hours later Thomas felt pain in every joint in his body.The car finally stopped, and the two let Thomas out.Thomas found a particularly desolate place.There are rocks everywhere, the terrain is uneven, and barbed wire is blocked around it.In front of a gloomy forest in the distance, there is a gray house that has been weathered with time.Armed soldiers stood at the gate.The two simply dressed gentlemen approached the hostile-eyed sentries and handed them a handful of papers.The guards examined it carefully.At this time, an old farmer came along the road pushing a small cart full of logs. "Do you have a long way to go, old man?" Thomas asked. "Damn it, there's a full three kilometers to Saint-Nicolas!" "Where is Saint Nicholas?" "In front of Nancy." "Ah!" replied Thomas Levin.The two men who had accompanied him returned.One of them told Thomas: "Forgive us for bringing you here in the truck. This is an order, otherwise you might recognize the place, but you are never allowed to know where you stay." "That's right!" said Thomas. The old house was furnished like a third-class hotel, so shabby.thought Thomas Levin.These people don't seem to have much money, I hope there are no bedbugs here.I had to resign myself to fate!In addition to Thomas, there were twenty-seven other spies taking part in this new training class.Most were French, but there were also two Austrians, five Germans, a Pole and an Englishman.The leader of the training class was a thin man with a pale and sickly face, as secretive and arrogant as Thomas's German colleague Major Ross, whom Thomas had met in Cologne. "Gentlemen!" he said to the gathered spies. "My name is Cupid. During training, each of you will give yourself a pseudonym. You will be given half an hour to make up a suitable fake resume for yourself. From now on , you all have to cover your fabricated identities, and my colleagues and I will do our best to prove that you are impostors. So, you want to come up with a name that will hold up when we strike." Thomas decided on the unassuming name of Adolf Meyer.In the afternoon, he received a set of gray canvas clothes with false names sewn on the front. Other students also wore the same overalls, and the food was terrible.The room assigned to Thomas was shabby, with damp and cold sheets.Before falling asleep, he always listened sadly to the time told by his beloved pocket watch, closed his eyes and imagined that he was lying on a comfortable bed in London.At three o'clock in the morning a violent roar woke him from his sleep. "Levin! Levin! Report soon, Levin!" Thomas jumped up covered in sweat, and moaned, "Here!" Then he received two loud slaps.Standing in front of the bed was Cupid, who grinned like a devil and said, "I want to call you Meier, Mr. Levin! If you behaved like this during your mission, you would have died long ago. Good night, sleep well!" Thomas couldn't go on. fall asleep.He was thinking about how he would not get slapped in the future.He quickly had an idea.In the following nights, no matter how rude Cupid yelled, Thomas always woke up slowly and insisted on his false identity: "What do you want me to do? My name is Adolph Meyer!" Cupid said very happily: "You Amazing self-control!" How did he know that every night Thomas stuffed a large ball of cotton in his ears... Cadets learn to use poison, explosives, submachine guns and revolvers.Thomas fired ten rounds and, to his surprise, hit the bull's-eye.He said in bewilderment: "It's a coincidence, I can't shoot at all." Cupid giggled: "Can't shoot, Meier, you are a genius!" Nine of the next ten shots hit the bull's-eye.Shocked, Thomas said, "A man doesn't even know himself at all!" Excited by this new discovery that night.What's wrong with me!A person who is as out of touch with life as I am should be hopeless, drunk and complaining, or suicidal.and I?Am I desperate?Am I drunk, corrupted?Am I blaming everyone and wanting to commit suicide?No!I had to admit to myself the horrible fact that this whole adventure was beginning to amuse me, to make me think it was all fun.I was young and had no family.Has anyone experienced such a strange thing?French secret police!That means I am against my own country, against Germany.That being the case, why not. He learned to send telegrams, to write letters in ciphers, and to decipher codes.In order to achieve this purpose, Cupid distributed several copies of "The Count of Monte Cristo" to everyone.He explained: "The method is very simple. For example, you have a book at hand. Now you receive a password. It first gives three numbers that are constantly changing. The first number is the page number of the novel you want to use; the second number is the page number of the novel you want to use. It is the number of lines on the page; the third number refers to the number of letters in the line. This letter is your starting point. From there, you can find other letters according to the password number sent..." Cupid distributed the note to everyone, on which was a telegram written in code.Half the class deciphered it correctly.The other half also mistranslated, including Thomas Levine.His painstaking translation turned out to be a line of meaningless monograms. "One more time," said Cupid.They try again.The result is still that half of the people mistranslates half of the people. "Practice all night tonight." Cupid said.They practiced all night.At dawn, they discovered that due to negligence, the novels distributed to the students were two different versions.That is, the second and fourth editions.The difference is that there is an abridgement in the fourth edition.Abridged results page numbers are changed. "This kind of thing..." Cupid said with a pale face, "Of course it will never happen in actual work." "Of course," repeated Thomas Levin. Then Cupid held a celebration, and there was a lot of wine.There was a student named little Hans Roller with rosy skin, long eyelashes, and a pair of black and enthusiastic eyes. He was very drunk.He was kicked out of the training session the next day.The Englishman and an Austrian left the camp with him.It was concluded overnight that they were not fit to be spies... In the fourth week the whole class was taken into a remote forest where they stayed with the teacher for eight days.Sleeping on hard soil, enduring the harsh climate, they learned to feed on berries, bark, leaves, and disgusting critters.Because according to the training plan, the rations will be eaten after three days.But Thomas Levine didn't follow, because he had smuggled some canned food in anticipation of such a thing.Thomas also enjoyed Belgian foie gras on the fourth day.While other trainees fought over a quarter of a small piece of rat meat, Thomas remained calm.So he was praised by Cupid: "You all follow the example of Mr. Meyer. Gentlemen, I can only say, look, this is a real man!" Cupid took the class to the edge of a deep valley in the sixth week. "Jump!" cried Cupid, and the cadets pushed back in terror.The only exception was Thomas, who pushed his companions aside, rushed forward with a shout, and threw himself into the abyss.He considered with lightning speed that France would never ask him to commit suicide.In fact he jumped and landed safely on the rubber strips of the mesh fabric.Cupid was wild with joy: "You are my best student, Meyer! One day, your fame will shake the whole world!" If only he really meant what he said. Thomas was scolded by the teacher only once.It happened when Cupid taught them to use a potion of steganography, which requires only a pen, onion juice, and a raw egg.Thomas couldn't wait to ask: "Who do you turn to in a Gestapo prison when you need onions, pens, and raw eggs?" It goes without saying that Thomas Lewin's training has been exceptionally excellent.When Cupid handed Thomas the relevant documents and the French passport with Jean Leblanc printed on it, he said with tears in his eyes, "Bon voyage, comrade. I'm proud of you!" "Say, Cupid. If you let me go away now, aren't you afraid that if I fall into the hands of the Germans, I will leak everything I have learned here?" Cupid replied with a smile: "There is nothing to leak here, sir. My friend! The secret police are trained in the same way all over the world! At the same level, using the latest medical, psychological and technical knowledge." When Thomas Levin returned to Paris on July 16, 1939, he was greeted by Mimi, who looked as if she had been waiting for him for six weeks really faithfully.On the 1st of August Thomas Levine was introduced by Colonel Simon to a comfortable house on the edge of Brogler Forest Park.It's a fifteen-minute drive from here to his bank on the Champs-Elysées.On August 20th Thomas Levin asked the colonel to forgive him. Despite the tense world situation, he decided after many efforts to go with Mimi to the equestrian sports center, the Parisian tourist attraction, Satri to recuperate. On August 30th Poland declared a general mobilization, and the next afternoon Thomas and Mimi went for a walk on Lake Komel and the Blanche Palace.When they returned to the city in the evening, they saw the red sun was setting slowly.They passed by the dreamy villa at the beginning of this century arm in arm, and walked back to the Park Hotel on the Marechal Joffre Avenue on the polished cobblestone road.Entering the hall, the porter greeted them and said, "Balfort's appointment is long, Mr. Levin." After a while, Thomas heard Colonel Simon's voice: "Levin, you are back at last." What the colonel said was German.He went on to explain: "I can't risk my words being understood by the people at your hotel. Listen to me, Levin, it's about to begin!" "war?" "yes." "when?" "Within forty-eight hours. Tomorrow you must take the first train to Belfort. Report to the Gin Barrel Inn. The concierge knows, it's about . . . " Just then the line broke.Thomas pressed the telephone switch: "Hello! Hello!" A woman's stern voice answered: "Mr. Levin, your line is blocked. You are speaking in a foreign language." "Is it forbidden to use foreign languages?" "Yes. From eighteen o'clock today, long-distance calls are only allowed in French." Thomas came out of the phone booth, and the porter gave him a strange look.At that moment he didn't feel anything unusual.It wasn't until someone knocked on his door at five o'clock in the morning that he remembered this gaze again... Mimi was still sleeping curled up like a kitten, and he couldn't bear to tell her what he knew last night.It was already dawn outside the window, and there were birds singing in the bushes.There was another knock on the door.This time the knocking was urgent, this could not be German.Thomas thought, and he decided to ignore it.At this moment someone said from outside the door: "Mr. Levine open the door. If you don't open it, we will break it open." "Who is it?" "Police!" Thomas got up and got out of bed, and Mimi woke up with a soft snort. "What's up, baby?" "I guess I'm going to be arrested again," he said.His guess was not bad at all.A gendarmerie officer stood by the door leading two local gendarmerie: "Put on your clothes and follow us." "why?" "You are a German spy!" "On what grounds?" "Your phone call yesterday was suspicious. The monitoring station has notified us, and the porter saw it. Do you still want to deny it?" Thomas said to the officer, "Everyone who told you to go out, I have something to say to you." The police left go out.Thomas shows the papers and passport he got from Cupid."I work for the French secret police," he said. "I see what new tricks you have? The forged documents are really good! Don't talk too much, put on your clothes and go!" On the evening of August 31, 1939, as soon as Thomas Levin arrived at Belfort, the fortress near Savalège, he took a taxi through the old town.After passing the Republic Square, the Three Siege Monument, came to the Golden Barrel Hotel.Impeccably dressed as usual, with the gold chain of an old-fashioned pocket watch gleaming on his waistcoat, Colonel Simon was waiting for him in the hotel lobby.The colonel is as flattering today in uniform as he is in civilian clothes. "My poor Levin, I'm so sorry. How could these gendarmes treat you like this, they are fools! Mimi finally called me, and I gave them a good scolding. Now come with me. Ai General Faure is waiting for you. We cannot afford to lose time. My friend, the time has come for you to be put to the test." Half an hour later Thomas Levine was sitting in the general's office in the French General Staff building.The office was spartan, with maps of France and Germany hanging on the walls.Louis Eifel was tall and thin with silver hair.He walked up and down in front of Thomas Levin with his hands behind his back.The general's voice was loud: "Mr. Levin, Colonel Simon has reported to me about you. I know that the person sitting in front of me is the best of us." The general stopped by the window and looked at the Buddha. A scenic gorge between the Riberg and Jura mountains. "This is not the time for deceit. Herr Hitler has opened the war. In a few hours we will issue a declaration of war against him. But..." The general turned around: "Mr. Levin, France is not prepared for war. We The secret police don’t even have... Colonel, this is under your jurisdiction, tell me.” Simon swallowed and said, “We’ve almost all become trash, old friend.” The general nodded vigorously: “Yes So, sir. Almost out of money, with meager support from the Secretary of Defense. Can't take massive action. And that's what's needed. Bound hand and foot, incapacitated. " "That's outrageous!" Thomas Levin suddenly felt like laughing when he said this: "I want to forgive you. But if the state has no money, what kind of secret police will there be?" "Our country would have had enough money to deal with a German attack. Unfortunately... Monsieur, there are people in France who refuse to pay the increased taxes. They are selfish, greedy, smugglers, and even in the present situation. National calamity.” The general straightened himself up and said, “I know that I’m here to trouble you at an unlucky time. I know that what I’m asking for can be said to be an unreasonable delusion. But even so, I still want to ask you if you think there is no way to make money.” The fastest I mean the fastest we can get a lot of money so we can get to work." "I have to think about it, Mr. General." His eyes suddenly lit up: "If gentlemen don't mind, I want to take my leave now and go back to the hotel to prepare a small dinner. We can continue talking while eating." Louis Eiffel froze for a moment: "Do you want to cook now?" "With your permission, Mr. General. I always have my best ideas in the kitchen." On the evening of August 31, 1939, this memorable dinner was held in a special room of the local first-class hotel. "It's so beautiful!" said the general, wiping his mouth with a napkin after the staple food. "Excellent!" said the colonel too. "The best thing is snail soup. I have never tasted such delicious snail soup," said the general. "Here's a little secret," Thomas said. "Only use big snails with gray shells, Mr. General! Keep the shells closed." The waiter brought out the snacks.Thomas got up and said, "Thanks, I'll do it myself." He lit a small alcohol stove, and announced, "There's a sweet lemon froth sauce, and a delicacy that's been burnt." He scooped some cherries out of a bowl Put in a small saucepan and heat over an alcohol flame.The cherries are then sprinkled with cognac and a bright liquid.Everyone looked at him fascinated.Colonel Simon half-raised himself. "What is this?" asked the general. "Alcohol with a high concentration, the chemical composition is very pure. It's from the pharmacy, we need it to burn these things." Then he deftly moved the flame closer to the cherry.With a hiss, a blue flame sprang up, trembled and flickered a few times, and went out.Then he deftly divided the hot cherries into the lemon curd. "All right," he said, "let's talk about our business. I think there's a solution." The general said, "My God, tell me!" "Mr. General, you this afternoon—the cherries taste good, don't you? You once accused those who made the country rich. You don't need to be angry about it. Every country has such people. They want to make money, how to make money It's all the same to them. If things fail, they take the money and run away, leaving little people." Thomas took a bite of lemon curd: "Okay, gentlemen. I think I'll call these selfish people People who have forgotten their country pay to revitalize the French secret police." "But what to do? What do you need?" "A US diplomat passport, a Belgian passport, the Ministry of Finance must respond quickly." Thomas Levine said briefly.It was the night of August 31, 1939. On September 10, 1939, decrees prohibiting or restricting capital exports, bills of exchange (foreign exchange exchanges) and gold sales during wartime were promulgated through newspapers and radio. On September 12, 1939, a young American diplomat took the express train that left Paris at 8:35 for Brussels.He was dressed like a British private banker and carried a large black pigskin trunk with strict border checks in France.Diplomatic passports were checked, and officials on both sides identified the well-dressed gentleman as William Murphy, the official courier of the American embassy in Paris.His luggage was not checked.When he arrived in Brussels, Thomas Levin, disguised as an American courier, stayed at the Hotel Royal.At the reception he presented a Belgian passport bearing the name Armand Deken. The next day Levin, aliased as Murphy or Durken, bought dollars in Brussels for three million French francs.The basic funds of three million francs came from Thomas Levine's own small bank, and he had to advance the money to the second branch before he drove back to Paris with a box of dollars.Within a few hours these precious foreign currencies were snapped up, and precisely by the rich, those who wanted to leave the country as soon as possible to protect their property.Thomas Levin made these people double and triple pay for their shameful ideas.The first time he earned six hundred thousand francs for himself.Now William Murphy is in Brussels with a suitcase containing five million francs.This behavior is repeated, making more and more money... General Eifel wanted to give him a medal, but Thomas refused: "I only want to be a citizen forever. I don't like this kind of thing." "Then you must order something, Mr. Levin!" "If I could have a bunch of French passport registration forms, Monsieur General. And the relevant stamps. There are so many Germans living in Paris now that if the Nazis come they'll have to go underground. They don't have the money to flee. I'd love to." Help these poor people." The general was silent for a while, and then said: "Despite the difficulties, sir. But I respect your wishes, and I will comply with your requests." So many people went to the Blogler Forest Park to visit Thomas Levine in a beautiful house. Thomas Levin continued to travel frequently to Brussels and Zurich as usual, and one day in March 1940 he returned a day earlier than expected.Mimi had lived with him for a long time.She knew exactly when he would return.This time he forgot to tell her to come back early.I'm going to surprise and delight the little boy, Thomas thought.Indeed, this time he really surprised her—she was lying in the arms of the handsome Colonel Jules Simon. "Sir." The colonel said while he was busy buttoning the densely packed buttons on his military uniform: "It's all my fault, I seduced her. I failed your trust. Sir, since the matter is irreversible, it's up to you to decide what weapon to use It's settled." "Get out of here and never come to see me again!" Simon's face became like a strawberry.He bit his lip and walked out.Mi Mi said timidly: "You are too rough!" "Do you love him?" "I love you both. He's brave and romantic; you're smart and funny." "Ah, Mimi. I can't do anything with you." Thomas sat on the edge of the bed and said dejectedly.He suddenly realizes that he likes Mi Mi very much. On May 10, the German offensive began.The Belgians were so disappointed that they were attacked a second time.Germany committed 190 divisions, and against the Germans were 12 Dutch, 23 Belgian, 10 British, 78 French and 1 Polish divisions.There were 850 Allied planes, some of them old, which had to face 4,500 German planes.The speed of the crash is astonishing.Everywhere is a scene of chaos.Ten million French became displaced refugees. In Paris, Thomas Levin took care of the house at his leisure.He could already hear the muffled gunfire, and he was still distributing the last batch of false passports.He bundled the francs, dollars, and pounds neatly, sealed them, and put them in laminated boxes, with Mimi helping.She's been looking pretty bad lately.Thomas was kind to her, but cold.He had not forgotten about the colonel.He pretended to be confident and said: "According to recent reports, the Germans are advancing eastward from some. We left Paris with a few things and headed southwest. We have plenty of gasoline. We passed Le Mans and then went to Bordeaux. , and then..." He closed his mouth and asked: "Are you crying?" Mimi sobbed: "Are you taking me away?" "Of course, I can't leave you here." "But I lied to you..." "Be good." He said solemnly: "If you want to lie to me, unless you were in partnership with Winston Churchill!" “啊，托马斯。你真好！那你也原谅他啦？” “比原谅你还容易。他爱你，这我能理解。” “托马斯……” "what happened to you?" “他就在花园里。”托马斯很气愤：“他想干什么？” “他很绝望。他不知道他该怎么办。他出差回来，他的人一个也不在这儿了。现在他孤身一人，没有汽车没有汽油……” “你从哪儿知道的？” “他告诉我的，他已经来了一个小时了。我给他说我要跟你谈……” “简直不可思议。”托马斯说。接着大笑起来，一直笑到眼泪都涌了出来。 一九四零年六月十三日下午，一辆黑色大型克里斯勒汽车朝西南方向驰往巴黎圣克卢德郊区。黑色克里斯勒汽车的右挡泥板旁边，美利坚合众国的国旗闪闪发亮。整个车顶用不大不小的星条旗遮了起来，保险杠牌子上有几个磨得又光又亮的字外交使团。方向盘旁边坐着托马斯·列文。米密·桑贝坐在他身旁。后座箱子和帽子盒之间坐着上校于勒·西蒙，他今天又穿上了那件一度很漂亮而现在有些磨旧了的蓝色西服。金色的袖扣，金色的领带别针。西蒙打量着托马斯，目光中交织着感激、羞愧和尴尬。托马斯试图说几句振奋人心的话来缓和一下紧张气氛：“我们真是吉星高照。”后座里的上校低沉地说：“象胆小鬼一样逃跑。本来应当留在这儿战斗的！” “于勒。”米密亲切地说：“这场战争我们早就打败了，如果他们抓住您，准会枪毙的。” “那倒更荣耀些。”上校说。“更愚蠢些。”托马斯说：“我很想看看这个疯狂的世界会变成什么样子。我实在太想看了。” “如果德国人抓住您，您也只有一死。”上校说。“德国人。”托马斯把车拐进一条车辆少些的道路驶进一片小树林。说：“包围了巴黎的四分之三，剩下的四分之一大概位于凡尔赛和科尔贝之间。我们处在这个四分之一地区。” “要是这个四分之一地区已有德国人了呢！” “请相信我。” 树林渐渐消失，可以看见平地了，一长队德国侦察坦克隆隆朝他们驶来。米密惊叫了一声。西蒙上校也抱怨起来。托列斯·列文说：“他们到这儿来干什么？一定是迷了路……” “这下全完了。”上校说。脸色像蜡一样苍白。“您怎么老毛病又犯了！把我也惹得心慌意乱的！”于勒·西蒙上校上气不接下气地说：“我的文件包里有秘密档案，是法国间谍的名单和地址。”托马斯倒吸了口冷气：“您发疯了！您带着这些东西干什么？”上校大声喊叫：“艾弗尔将军命令我把这些名单无论如何也要送到图路斯，交给那儿的某个人，不惜任何代价。” “您干嘛不早说呢？”托马斯朝他大声吼叫。“我要是早说了，您能带上我走吗？”托马斯忍不住笑起来：“您说得也对！”一分钟后他们和德国坦克车队相遇了。“我有一只手枪。”上校悄声说：“只要我活着，谁也别想靠近公文包。” “这几分钟那些先生们倒是愿意等的。”托马斯说着把马达停了下来。 风尘仆仆的德国兵好奇地走近来，从一辆军用吉普车上下来一个细挑个金发中尉。他走近克里斯勒汽车，举手敬礼说：“您好，我可以看看您的证件吗？”米密象瘫了似的坐着，一句话也说不出来，德国兵开始从四面八方朝汽车围过来。“可以。”托马斯·列文傲慢地说：“我们是美国人，没看见吗？” “我只看见旗子。”金发中尉操一口地道的英语：“我还想看看您的证件！” “请吧。”托马斯·列文把证件递过去。中尉弗里茨·埃格蒙特·楚姆布施象拉手风琴一样把美国外交官护照打开，皱着眉头看看证件，又抬头看看坐在大型黑色汽车方向盘边上那位衣冠楚楚、傲气十足的年轻人，这个人眼里流露出不耐烦的神色。金发中尉楚姆布施说：“您叫威廉·墨菲吗？” “是的。”这位年轻的先生一边答话一边打着呵欠，很有教养地抬起一只手遮住嘴巴。假如您不叫威廉·墨菲而是叫托马斯·列文，假如您作为法国秘密警察的间谍被列在德国秘密警察的黑名单上又正好遇上德国国防军坦克侦察车队，假如您又带着一位娇小的法国女友和一名身穿便服的二处高级军官，而且知道这位军官的黑色公文包里有秘密档案和所有法国间谍的名单和地址。啧，那您摆出一副傲气十足又颇不耐烦的架子，那才叫妙呢。中尉楚姆布施装作彬彬有礼的样子，把护照退还给托马斯。在酷热的一九四零年六月十三日，美国不管怎么样还保持着中立。楚姆布施在离巴黎二十一公里的地方毕竟不想惹出什么麻烦来。他是因婚姻不幸才来当兵的。他忠于职守地问道：“太太，您的护照！”满头黑发、娇媚的米密虽然听不懂，但猜到他要什么。便打开皮包取出他要的东西。她对围着汽车的士兵妩媚地一笑，顿时引起一片啧啧的赞美声。“她是我的秘书。”托马斯对中尉声明。这事情太顺利了。他想现在就剩西蒙了。我们就可以过关了。谁知紧接着祸事就来了。中尉楚姆布施把头伸进车窗把护照还给米密。然后朝坐在后座箱子与帽子中间、膝盖上放着黑色公文包的西蒙转过身去。可能是楚姆布施伸手的动作太快。西蒙上校往后一退面带基督教殉教者的狂热的表情把公文包紧紧贴在胸前。“喂！”楚姆布施说：“这里究竟是些什么？拿来看看！” “不！不！不！”上校喊叫起来。想要从中调解的托马斯的嘴突然被楚姆布施的手肘给堵住了。这下克里斯勒汽车可不是好玩的地方了。米密尖叫起来。楚姆布施的脑袋在车顶上撞了一下，便骂开了。托马斯转身时被操纵杆碰到了最敏感的部位膝盖。这个饭桶！托马斯·列文怒火中烧。随后他看见西蒙手里拿着一把法国造军用手枪，感到说不出的惊恐。托马斯听见西蒙喘着粗气说：“让开，要不我开枪啦！” “您这头蠢驴！”托马斯大叫。他用力把西蒙的手往上一挡，只听一声枪响，子弹把车顶射穿了。托马斯从西蒙手中夺过武器，气愤地用法语说：“与您一道只有把事情弄坏！”中尉楚姆布施拉开车门，朝托马斯咆哮道：“出来！”托马斯彬彬有礼地微笑着下了车，中尉手中现在也拿着枪。坦克射手站成一圈纹丝不动，子弹都上了膛，一下子突然变得非常安静。托马斯把西蒙的枪扔进谷地里，然后抬起眉毛看着十五支枪的枪口。现在一切都无济于事了。托马斯想，只有求助我们国家的威望。于是深深地吸了口气对楚姆布施吼道：“这位先生和小姐在我的保护之下！我的车上有美国国旗。” “出来，要不开枪了！”楚姆布施对着穿着便服的西蒙上校喊叫。他仍坐在后座上，脸色苍白。“您就在车里！”托马斯喊道。他想不出什么更好的办法：“这辆车有治外法权，只要坐进汽车，就是在美国的土地上！” “这我不管……” “好，好，那你想制造一起国际事件喽！因为这样一起事件，我们曾参加过第一次大战！” “我什么也没有制造！我只是尽我的职责！这个人可能是法国间谍！” “那您相信他会表现得这样神经紧张吗？” “公文包，把它交出来。我想知道包里是什么！” “这是他的外交官公文包，受到国际法保护！我要向您的上司控告您！” “您马上就可以这么做！” "What does it mean?" “您跟我走！” "Where are you going?" “上军团作战司令部。连瞎子也看得见这里有问题！坐到驾驶座上去，把车子掉个头。要是想逃跑就开枪。当然不是朝轮胎上打。”楚姆布施说这话时声音很轻。 托马斯·列文一边愁眉苦脸地叹着气，一边打量着这间红、白、黄三色的卧室，这屋子是一零七号套房的一部分。一零七号套房是乔治五世饭馆四套最豪华的客房之一。乔治五世饭店则是巴黎四家最高级的旅馆之一。数小时前饭店的房顶上飘起了第三帝国卍字战旗。大门前嘎嘎行驶着重型坦克。这会儿饭店的院子里停着一辆黑色克里斯勒汽车，一零七号套房的卧室里坐着托马斯·列文、米密·桑贝和于勒·西蒙上校。 这三个人刚刚度过令人心惊胆战的二十四小时，他们的黑色克里斯勒汽车被两辆装甲侦察车一前一后夹在中间押解到军国作战司令部，路上金发中尉楚姆布施曾试图通过电台和他的将军取得联系。但是德国军队推进得如此神速以至于他们连固定的总部驻地都没有了。直到巴黎未经战斗就被占领之后，将军才在乔治五世饭店安顿下来。 过道里回响着笨重的军靴的杂沓声，大厅里东一堆西一团地放着箱子、机枪和电缆。这里正在架设电话线，整个旅馆上上下下一片忙乱。一刻钟后楚姆布施中尉把他的三个俘虏带进了一零七号房间，随后转身就不见了，毫无疑问他去向将军汇报情况了。那只黑色皮包此刻放在托马斯·列文的膝盖上。他觉得皮包放在自己身边总要保险点。 没过多久，一个瘦高个子的军官推门进来说：“墨菲先生，冯·费尔森艾克将军有请。”托马斯·列文心想看来我还是被当作美国外交官的，好吧，那就将计就计。埃里希·冯·费尔森艾克将军矮墩墩的身材，一头铁灰色的短发，鼻梁上架着金丝眼镜。一张小桌上放着刀叉盘碟和两只白铁皮罐，看样子将军正在吃午饭。托马斯趁机表现他的国际礼貌：“将军，打搅您用餐我深表遗憾。”冯·费尔森艾克将军握了握托马斯的手，说：“道歉的应该是我，墨菲先生。”托马斯看见将军把伪造的外交护照以及米密和西蒙的假证件还给他时，心里激动得嘣嘣直跳。将军说：“你们的证件没问题。请原谅中尉的鲁莽，他对您的伙伴产生了误会，毫无疑问他的所作所为超出了他的权限。” “将军，这种事是可能发生的。”托马斯小声嘟囔。“不，墨菲先生！这种事不该发生！德国武装部队是无可指责的，我们遵守国际惯例，我们不是拦路抢劫的强盗！” "certainly……" “墨菲先生，我说的都是实话，上星期才惹了个大麻烦。我们有几个头脑发热的家伙在法国北部的亚眠市抓了个瑞典军事使团的两位先生。这下可好弄得我亲自赔礼道歉。那对我是一个警告。这种事在我这儿不允许发生第二次。您吃过了吗，墨菲先生？” “唔，还没有……” “可以邀请您在启程前共进午餐吗？”托马斯点了点头。“那么就来一份德国战地厨房的饭菜吧。” “我不妨碍您吗？” “我深感荣幸。科格，再拿一套餐具来！也让人给那边的两位送点吃的去……” “是的，将军先生。” 五分钟后……传令兵敲门进来跟将军耳语了一阵，两人便一起出去了。将军回到客厅，他用冰冷的语调轻声说：“刚才我剋了楚姆布施一顿。他不服，就跟美国大使馆通了电话。那儿根本就没有一个叫墨菲的人，您对此作何解释，墨菲先生？”旅馆门前重型坦克和军车仍旧川流不息，那履带的嘎嘎声和隆隆的马达声直刺托马斯·列文的耳鼓。他掏出怀表十二下加两响，将军一动不动地呆立在那里。托马斯则在迅速思考对策。可是无济于事，看来他只得孤注一掷了……想到这里，他便操起纯正的德语：“好吧，我也没别的办法了。尽管我把实情吐露出来是违犯了严令的。请准许我和您私下谈谈。” “听着，墨菲先生。或者随便您叫什么，我可警告您，临时军事法庭随时都能组成。” “只需要五分钟的单独谈话，将军先生！”托马斯竭力作出一副郑重其事的样子。将军考虑了好一会儿，最后朝副官一摆头让他出去。副官刚一离开客厅，托马斯就迫不及待地放了一通连珠炮：“现在我让您承担保密的责任，务必对这件事守口如瓶。一旦我离开此地，您一定要马上忘掉曾经和我见过面……” “您大概发疯了吧？” “……我现在向您透露一件高级机密，您必须以军官名义担保，绝不说出半个字……” “这种厚颜无耻我还从未……”托马斯不容将军说完便抢过话头：“我接到卡纳里斯海军上将的密令……” “卡纳里斯！” “……卡纳在斯亲自指示我务必保持美国外交官的身份。现在情况迫使我向您道出了真情，请看。”托马斯·列文不慌不忙地从马甲的内袋里取出一份证件：“您看一下吧，将军先生。”费尔森艾克翻看着证件。这张证明可是德国反间谍机关的真家伙，签发人是国防军科隆军区一个叫弗里茨·罗斯的少校。托马斯之所以保存好这张证件，是因为他深信有朝一日会派上用场…… 将军惊得目瞪口呆，他结结巴巴地说：“您……您是反间谍部门的？” “您不是都看见了吗！”托马斯得意起来：“如果将军有怀疑，那就请立刻往科隆挂个加急通话！”托马斯嘴上这么说，心里却七上八下。如果他真的打电话，那我就彻底完蛋了。“但是您必须明白……”看上去我得救了。托马斯心想，便马上大声嚷嚷起来：“您知道等在那边的两个人是谁吗？他们是法国秘密情报人员！已经同意替我们工作！”托马斯拍了拍那黑包：“这里面放着法国情报机关国防第二处的档案材料和人员名单，您现在总该明白这出戏里演的是什么了吧。”将军果然被震住了，他的手指神经质地在桌面上敲着鼓点。“尽管如此我还是不懂。既然那两个人愿意为我们效劳那干嘛要搞得那样鬼鬼祟祟的？” “将军先生，难道您真的还不明白？法国反间谍部门正在追踪我们，每一分钟都可能出事！所以海军上将才想出这么个主意，让这两人享有中立国的外交保护，把他们送到波尔多附近的一座城堡里藏起来，直到达成停火协定为止。”说到这里托马斯苦笑了两声：“然而我们没估计到，会是一个忠于职守的德军中尉打乱了我们的全盘计划！”他认真地点了点头：“时间啊，宝贵的时间已经浪费了！如果这两个人落到法国人手里，将军先生。那么后果国际性的后果就不堪设想……好了，您立即和科隆通话吧！” “可我已经相信您的话了！” “是吗？那太好了！这样的话您至少应该允许我自己给科隆方面挂个电话，说明一下在这儿出了岔子。” “您听着，我恰恰不喜欢这么做。这电话非打不可吗？” “什么叫非打不可？不打又怎么办呢？就算我现在得以离开这里，可仍然有被您的那些热心有余的先生再次逮捕的危险！”将军叹了口气：“我给您一张通行证，这样您就不会再受到阻拦了，永远不会。” “那太好了！”托马斯说：“还有一件事，将军先生。您别再难为楚姆布施中尉了，他也不过是履行自己的职责而已。您设想一下，假如我是个法国特务，而他放我通过的话……” 当顶棚上漆着星条旗的黑色克里斯勒缓缓驶出乔治五世饭店时，两名德国门岗举手行礼。托马斯·列文也把一只手放到帽檐上客客气气地以示回礼。但是这以后的托马斯·列文可就不那么客气了。他劈头盖脸地把于勒·西蒙臭骂一顿，后者则一言不发地恭听训斥。这出插曲后的第四十八小时，他们终于又回到原来拟定的逃跑路线上。托马斯问：“究竟要把这只黑包交给谁？” “德布拉少校。” "Who is this person?" “二处的二号人物，他要把这些东西送到英国或非洲去。” “这个少校住在图卢兹？” “我根本不知道他现在呆在什么地方。”上校回答说：“也无法肯定他何时会露面，怎么样露面。我奉命到图卢兹去找我们的信箱。” “什么样的信箱？”米密问。“我们把接收和传递情报的人称为信箱。” "So that's the case." “这人绝对可靠，名叫于勒·皮埃尔，是个车房老板。” 在挤满了难民和军人的公路上他们整整跑了好几天，费尔森艾克将军的那张通行证产生了神奇的效果。所有的德军哨卡都对他们毕恭毕敬。末了托马斯开车用油都是军用的。快到图卢兹托马斯停住车，把车身的某些地方作了点改动。他拧下了漆着外交信使团字样的汽车编号，取掉了三角形的汽车座旗和顶棚上的星条旗放在行李箱里以备用。然后从行李箱中拿出两块法国牌照。“现在请你们记住，我从此不再叫墨菲了。眼下我的名字是让·列布朗。”托马斯对米密和西蒙说。南锡间谍学校的老师丘比特给他开的那张假护照上，用的就是这个名字。 和平时期，图卢兹有居民二十五万，而现在却有上百万人在此栖身，整个城市象一个充满悲剧气氛的嘈杂集市。下车后上校去找他的信箱。米密和托马斯设法弄间房子。他们跑了许多旅馆、公寓和小客栈，可是到处都没有空房间。就连旅馆的大厅、食堂、酒吧间和盥洗室里都住满了拖儿带女的人们。客房的容量甚至超过了定额的两三倍。几个小时后，米密和托马斯拖着酸疼的腿回到了他们停放汽车的地方。上校已经坐在克里斯勒的踏板上，一副怅然若失的神情，胳膊下仍夹着那只黑包。“出什么事了？”托马斯问：“你没找到那个车房吗？” “找是找到了。”西蒙筋疲力尽地回答：“可是皮埃尔先生已不在人世。他的一个异母妹妹还活着，名叫让娜·皮埃尔，住在贝尔热大街十六号。” “我们开车到那儿去。”托马斯说：“也许她那儿有少校的消息。” 贝尔热大街上酒肆、饭馆和供浅酌小饮的店家林立。这里不乏浓妆艳抹、袒胸露背的漂亮姑娘。她们踯躅街头，装出一副有所等待的样子。十六号是一幢老式小旅馆，底层是一间破破烂烂的餐厅，入口处悬挂着一块剪成女人形状的黄铜招牌，上写让娜旅店。他们在狭窄、昏暗的门房里找到一个头发抹得油亮的看门人。他带着几位不速之客走了一楼，随后说夫人马上就到，请他们在客厅里稍候。客厅里装有枝形吊灯，摆设着丝绒家具，沾满了尘埃的盆景，一架留声机和一面整整遮盖了一面墙的大镜子。四下弥漫着香水、粉脂和纸烟的混合味。 米密有些不安地说：“哦，天呐！你相信吗，这是一……” “米密。”托马斯用鼻音制止米密说下去，正在这时一个年约三十五岁的漂亮少妇走了进来。她梳一头金色短发，脸上的化妆得十分巧妙，看上去给人一种精明强干、谙通世故的印象。这女人的体态一下子就引起托马斯的兴趣。少妇的声音有些沙哑：“欢迎诸位光临，嗨，三人同行！够意思！我是让娜·皮埃尔，可以给你们介绍几位我的朋友吗？”说完她拍了几下手。墙上一扇红纱隐门开了，三个年轻姑娘走进客厅，其中一个是黑白混血儿。她们都长得很美，而且全是赤身裸体的。姑娘们笑眯眯地走到大壁镜前，娉娉婷婷地转着圈。与此同时金发女人逐一介绍道：“现在来认识一下好吗？从左至右为松娅、贝贝、让内特……” “夫人……”上校轻轻打断她的话。“……让内特来自桑给巴尔，她有……” “夫人！”这回上校提高了嗓门。“您怎么了，先生？” “您这是误会了，我们要和您单独谈谈。夫人！”上校站起来，走到让娜·皮埃尔身边，小声问：“蚂蚁对蟋蟀说什么？”让娜眯起双眼，轻声答道：“跳吧，只管跳吧。到了冬天你就得忍受饥饿之苦了。”说完她又拍了拍巴掌，对那几个搔首弄姿的美人儿说：“你们可以去了！”三个漂亮姐儿哧哧笑着转身走了。“请原谅，我实在不知道……”让娜笑吟吟地看着托马斯，似乎对他有了好感。而米密却不高兴地蹙起额头。让娜说：“哥哥死前两天向我透露了这件事，并且告诉了我接头暗语。”她朝西蒙转过身：“这么说您就是送包来的那位先生喽，可是取包的那一位至今杳无音讯。”托马斯对让娜说：“夫人，您知道图卢兹现在挤满了人。您能不能租给我们两间房子？” “在这儿？”米密跳了起来。“我的孩子，这是我能看到的唯一可能性。”托马斯讨好地朝让娜笑了笑：“请高抬贵手吧，夫人！” “我这儿的房间本来是按小时计算出租的……” “夫人，请允许我往您的芳心轻轻注入一点爱国激情行吗？”托马斯毫不松口。让娜叹了口气：“真是个可爱的房客，那么好吧。” 德布拉少校迟迟不露面。一个星期过去了，两个星期过去了，他仍然踪影全无。这可倒好托马斯想但愿他永远不要出现！托马斯·列文在让娜旅馆定居下来，只要有空他总是凑到迷人的金发女老板身边。“让，我的厨子从这儿跑了。”让娜对她祖籍德国的房客抱怨道。她一直把托马斯当成地道的巴黎人。“食品越来越匿乏。你想即使楼下的餐厅开门营业，我又能挣几个钱……” “让娜。”托马斯亲昵地说：“我提个好心的建议我掌勺兼组织货源，挣的钱我们对半分，同意吗？” “您总是这么个急性子吗？” “您不乐意？” “相反，让，恰恰相反。” 不久托马斯经常出现在图卢兹周围那高低不平的公路上。农民们都跟他打招呼、开玩笑，也替他保守秘密。托马斯则给这一个好价钱，帮那一个搞点城里的紧俏货……在厨房里，托马斯煎、烤、烹、炸，兴致勃勃，让娜则给他打下手。两人配合默契，相互崇拜。米密则和西蒙优哉游哉地闲逛。餐厅每日都是座无虚席，食客几乎全是来自各国的难民。托马斯的饭菜品种花样翻新、风味不同，价格相宜，对顾客产生了极大的魅力。 旅馆里几个姑娘，一个个都被托马斯那潇洒的举止和堂堂的仪表给迷住了。这个年轻英俊的厨子和蔼可亲、聪明机智，从不过分地接近谁，使姑娘们觉得受到了贵妇般的待遇。女人们有事，都爱向他敞开芳心，倾吐难言的苦衷，而他也总是百听不厌。让娜有个孩子寄养在农村，收留孩子的那家农民老是不知足地要这要那，托马斯帮她解决了这一难题。松娅有权继承一笔遗产，可负责这件事的律师耍无赖，迟迟不予办理，又是托马斯从中斡旋，促成了些事。贝贝有个鲁莽粗暴的男朋友，此人不但对她长期行骗，还时常施以拳脚棍棒。还是托马斯好言规劝，再加上几招凶狠的柔道动作。就使这个莽汉乖乖地循规蹈矩了。这人叫阿尔封斯，日后会给托马斯找许多麻烦…… 餐厅的常客中有个叫瓦尔特·林德纳的银行家，为了躲避纳粹分子，他逃出维也纳来到巴黎，现在又从巴黎逃到图卢兹，途中林德纳和妻子走散了。他们曾约好在图卢兹碰头，现在他正盼望着妻子的重新出现。瓦尔特·林德纳对托马斯颇有好感。当他得知这位烹饪大师也是个银行家时，便向他建议：“您跟我一起去南美吧，我妻子一到就动身。我在那边也有财产，您可以作我的合伙人……”在这一瞬间，托马斯·列文又忘掉了所遇的坎坷经历，重新鼓起了勇气，相信了人类的理智、前途的光明。 六月份过去了，他们已经在图卢兹呆了差不多两个月。一个大热天的早上，西蒙、让娜和托马斯一起开了个小型会议。上校说：“必须扩大我们的活动半径，朋友。让娜女士有个新地址给您。”他朝一张地图俯下身去，接着说：“瞧这儿，在西北方向大概离图卢兹一百五十公里左右，多尔多涅河谷里，靠近萨耳拉……” “那儿有一座小城堡。”让娜神经质地吸着烟：“在嘎斯特瑙—法拉克地区边缘，名叫勒米兰德。那儿有个农场，养了不少猪、奶牛什么的……”三小时后，托马斯·列文已驱车颠簸在尘土飞扬的乡间公路上。托马斯把车停在敞开的园林大门前，一连喊了几声，可没人答应。他来到宅前一个铺满了砾石的大空场上，发现有扇古老、高大的橡木门虚掩着，门前有数级台阶。“喂！”托马斯重又叫道。他听到一阵尘声怪气的笑声。紧接着从门缝里钻出一只棕色的小猴子。这小东西连蹦带跳，三下两下爬到托马斯身上。这时，房子里传来一个女人的声音：“葛洛！葛洛！葛洛！葛洛！你跑到哪儿去啦？又在捣什么蛋？”橡皮大门打开了，现出一位艳丽动人的深肤色妇女。白色的紧身裤，白色衬衣，细细的手腕上金手镯叮当作响，一头黑发从中间分开，梳理得十分熨帖。托马斯屏住呼吸，他认识这个女人，并且多年来一直仰慕崇拜她。此刻，他惊异得说不出一个字来。是的，托马斯什么情况都估计到了，唯独没想到会在这乱世之中，在战火纷飞的法国，邂逅这么一位具有异国风采的绝世佳人——黑人歌舞演员约瑟芬·巴克。 黑美人莞尔一笑，说：“您好，先生。请原谅这冒昧的欢迎，看来葛洛挺喜欢您。” “夫人……您是……您有……您住在这儿？”托马斯有些语无伦次。“是租来的房子。能为您效劳吗？” “我叫让·列布朗。我是来采购食品的……可一见到您就忘记这件事了。”托马斯说着走上台阶，肩上仍扛着那只小猴子，他躬腰吻了一下对方的手：“至于我为什么来这儿根本就无关紧要。能站在您面前，站在当代最伟大的艺术家面前，我不胜荣幸。” “您可真会说话，列布朗先生。” “您的唱片我全都收藏着，《我有两个情人》那支曲子我有三张！在很多有关您的画刊里……”他知道约瑟芬是一个西班牙商人和一个黑人妇女的女儿，出生在美国城市圣路易斯，她那富有传奇色彩的生涯是从穷困潦倒开始的。在巴黎她浑身上下一丝不挂，只戴了一圈香蕉扎成的花环，用她那销魂荡魄的舞姿，使观众如醉如痴，从而一举成名。 “您大概是从巴黎来吧？” “是的，我