Chapter 10 Chapter nine

At 16:15 on September 27, 1943, the telephone on Shorty Major Blanier's desk rang shrilly.He picked up the receiver, and the voice of his boss came from the receiver: "I'm Werth, and I'm speaking to you in Toulouse." "Yes, sir Colonel!" "We found Peterson's killer," Wirth said. "Levin, the two security officers, and myself have spoken to him in the ward." "Oh, Mr. Colonel!" Blanier said into the microphone: "But that Victor Robinson who lent money to others... Can he get away with Ferud's accident?" "We found out about this later. Robinson partnered with Peterson to do business in the black market. He was originally an employee of Peterson, but Peterson fired him later. So Robinson wanted to seek revenge. But things are still going on. More than that, Branier. The important thing is that I will tell you right away, as far as Levin knows, Peterson used the gold he bought to participate in a huge black market transaction of stealing and selling Imperial Credit Notes... Blanier, you Are you listening to me?" Blanier licked his dry lips: "I'm listening, Mr. Colonel!"

"We haven't figured out exactly how all of this is connected, but it's time to race, Blanier! If Peterson does have a black-market deal with the Ekakas, it's going to cause a big scandal! The security team, of course. We'll try to cover it up! We're ahead of the curve. A few hours at most, of course. Major Blanier, with five reliable men..." "yes!" "Peterson has a house at No. 3 Wagram Boulevard. It's his business house. You search that house first." "Yes, sir Colonel!" "Levin found out that Peterson still has a secret lodging place at No. 28 Mozart Avenue. It seems that the security department doesn't know this place yet, so you have to go there too..."

"Yes, sir Colonel!" "Go and copy all those houses for me. Do what you like! Levin will be coming back to you soon. You must protect all suspicious materials from the public. The security guy got lost! Do you understand?" "Understood, Mr. Colonel." Blanier replied loudly. The speeding military Mercedes braked suddenly in front of the door of No. 3 house on Wagram Boulevard, and the tires squeaked on the street.The short Major Blanier jumped out of the car, straightened up and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses confidently.There was also a military truck parked behind the Mercedes, and five heavily armed soldiers jumped out of the vehicle.This is the afternoon of September 27th. "Follow me!" The short major ordered, while moving the pistol on his belt forward.When they rushed into the house, it was empty.The doors are all wide open.Carpets and furniture were all gone.The female concierge shrugged and said, "All shipped out early this morning."

"Shipped away? Who shipped it?" "Who? The furniture man. There's a German officer who's a friend of Mr. Peterson's. . . This one used to come here. His name was Redeker . . . " "Redeker!" The short Major Blanier had an acquaintance in the security department.He knew Redeker, the captain of the vanguard, and the brother-in-law of Himmler, the national leader of the SS and the German police chief.Hearing his name, Blanier felt a nameless terror in his heart.Could it be that Redeker and Peterson are in the same group?If it does, then there is a real urgency.Five burly men followed the major and rushed down from upstairs again.They jumped into the car and sped away.The major's heart was beating violently.I thought to myself, now it's up to me!

In a few minutes, they arrived at the elegant Mozart Boulevard. Blaineer tried to explain to the maid in Room 28 that he had to search Peterson Mr.'s house is on the third floor. "Oh, sir," replied the porter, "the lady is still upstairs!" "Miss? What kind of wife?" "Lady Lily Barge and her maid." "Who is Madame Bage?" "Needless to say, of course it's Mr. Peterson's girlfriend. He's gone on a trip and has been gone for a while." Hearing these words, Blaineer guessed with absolute certainty that no one here had heard The news that their man who traded gold in the black market was killed.So he shouted, and his five burly men rushed up to the third floor.

Blanier rang the doorbell, and a very handsome maid came to open the door, and Blanier explained his purpose to her.As soon as the maid heard that there was a search, she immediately called Madam in a panic.Mrs. Bage came out wearing a translucent dress. Although the light in the front hall was dim, her delicate and jade-like figure could still be seen clearly.The major noticed that the five men he had brought with him were all staring at her absent-mindedly.Blanier cleared his throat, and explained the purpose of his visit in a polite but unequivocal manner.After speaking, he walked into the magnificently furnished living room first.There are some indecent paintings on the walls.Naturally, Blanier didn't appreciate these too much.

At this moment Lily Barge walked lightly to the window, and although it was true that it was not necessary to lower the blackout curtains at this time of day, she drew them down anyway.I'm not an idiot!Blaine thought to himself.It's not obvious that they are signaling to the people on the street below!So he walked up to the plump Li Li in two steps, and raised the lowered window curtain again. Li Li, who only wore a thin shirt, simply sat down on a soft easy chair, and crossed her legs: "Mr. Major, then please start your search." In fact, the five people in Blaineer obviously Already started.The major heard them flirting noisily with the pretty maid as they searched, and Blanier opened a large mahogany box.But he didn't know the contents in the box were left alone, but he blushed when he saw them.He felt suffocated and his breathing came short of breath.Li Li next to him had a mocking smile in his eyes.The Major snapped the lid on the box again, with a wave of nameless terror in his heart.At this moment the lady with the almond eyes said softly: "The gentlemen you brought seem to have discovered the library." Blanier rushed into the next room and found that among the men he brought were four of them in the right place. Huddled next to a bookcase, flipping through books with relish.He looked everywhere for the fifth, and found him in the maid's room.The major was anxious and angry, his face flushed like a ripe tomato.He was sweating profusely.In the end, he ran to the telephone helplessly, dialed the special line of the Wehrmacht, and briefly reported his situation to the city of Toulouse.Thank goodness Colonel Werther was still there.Blanier breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the colonel's voice.He reported his troubles to the colonel.Colonel Wilt who was in Toulouse heard the report and sighed unconsciously: "Oh, this country bumpkin!" But Blaineer didn't hear any comments on him, only heard Wilt ask him: "What about the materials? ... Credit What about the coupons?...Did you find anything?"

"No, sir Colonel." "Listen, Blanier. I'm sure Levin will be in Paris soon. You don't leave the house, and you don't tell anyone about the Toulouse connection..." "Understood, Mr. Colonel. Stay where you are and keep your mouth shut!" "You must always call the Ludecia Hotel, and remember to always call Levin's private residence. He will come to you as soon as he arrives in Paris." Blanier put down the phone.levin!Thomas Levin!Ah, this Ranger seems to bring him bright hope.As long as he comes, then... At this moment, the maid screamed again from nowhere, as if someone was tickling her.The major jumped out of his chair in a fit of rage, and rushed out of the bastard.

What Major Blanier and his entourage have so far found in Peterson's secret lodgings, among other things, are precious jewellery, large sums of gold coins, Far Eastern prints and engravings.Everything, except that there is no evidence to prove that Peterson participated in the black market trading of Imperial Credit Notes. Mrs. Bage repeatedly tried to go to a certain window to fiddle with the blackout curtains, but was firmly stopped by Blaney Yang every time. An hour and a half had passed since the search began.Suddenly the doorbell rang sharply, and Li Li's face suddenly turned pale.Blanier drew his pistol from his pouch. "Shut up." He said softly.He walked backwards through the front hall step by step, rounded around and opened the door, and grabbed the man standing at the door.This young and pretty olive-skinned man had smooth black hair, a moustache, long eyelashes, and two knife-like scars on his right cheek.Now his face was as pale as death. "Idiot!" Li Li called out to him, "What are you doing here?"

"Why shouldn't I come?" He also yelled, "The window curtains are still hanging!" "Aha!" cried Blaineer triumphantly.Then he went to search.It turned out that he didn't have any weapons on him.His passport stated his name as Prosper Langdan.Writer, aged twenty-eight.Blanier interrogated him, but the young man gritted his teeth and refused to utter a word.At this moment, Li Li suddenly sobbed in despair.She cried: "Mr. Commander, let me tell you everything! Prosper is my real sweetheart. I cheated Peterson all the time... Do you believe me?" "Not a word," said Blanier grimly, thinking that if Levin had been here he would have done with them as I had.So he locked Pusspal Langdown in the bathroom.

It was getting dark outside, and at half past seven, the major called the Luthercia Hotel again.Then he hung up on Levin's private house.No, Thomas Levine has not come yet.Time moves slowly.It's nine o'clock, ten o'clock.But Thomas Levine was not here yet.Blaineer agreed to their request.He arranged for sentry sergeants.One guards the door of the maid's bedroom, one guards the door of the mistress' bedroom, and one guards the door of the bathroom.The other two guard the gate.He himself remained in the living room by the telephone.He thought to himself that he was not going to sleep.He felt that he was as firm as a rock and selfless, no one could buy him off, no one could corrupt him, no one... but he also fell asleep... When he woke up, the living room was completely dark.He felt a pair of soft hands gently stroking his body here and there... "Shut up." Lily Barge said quietly, "I'm all asleep... I'll agree to whatever you want me to do, as long as Please let Prospal go..." Branier grabbed Bage's arm with both hands like pliers, and said mercilessly: "Madame, take your hand away immediately! Don't touch me pistol!" "Oh." Li Li sighed softly in the darkness; "Where did I want to take your pistol, idiot..." Just then the doorbell rang.About eleven o'clock in the evening Thomas Levin arrived at the house at 28 Mozart's Allee.He saw Major Blanier standing behind the door, his flushed face and neck stained with lipstick, his hair disheveled and panting, in a disconsolate look.Behind the major was a girl in very see-through pajamas, and nothing else could be seen.Major Blanier stammered, "Mr. Levin... thank God you're here..." Thomas kissed the slender hand of the girl in pajamas suavely.Then Major Blanier reported the situation to Levin, said that he had found a lot of things that should not have been found, but found nothing that should have been found, and finally he talked about the man who was detained by him. "Prosper is my sweetheart," said Lily Barge, putting on her dressing gown.She stared at Thomas intently.Thomas said slowly: "Erich Peterson has been shot. In Toulouse, he was killed by someone among his business partners..." Hearing what Levin said, Li Li's two plump The red lips showed a sweet smile.She let out a long breath, and said with great happiness: "Finally caught him, this shameless rascal!" "Madam, don't be too sad." Thomas persuaded: "Can you allow us to search again?" The beautiful woman smiled sleepily: "Please go ahead, I want to tell you what places you should not ignore ...wherever the Major has forbidden his men to search..." It turned out that they copied out five million marks of imperial credit issued in Romania.Some were hidden at the bottom of those rosewood boxes for oriental curiosities, some behind books in the library which the Major forbade his men to read, some under the filthy obscenity, some under the Behind the obscene naughty pictures. At this moment Thomas called the mistress back to his room, and ordered Prosper Langdon, who was ashamed with astonishment, to be released from the bathroom, and ten minutes later he entered the mistress' bedroom.She lay on the bed with twinkling eyes.Thomas sat down on the edge of the bed.She said softly: "I'm telling the truth... Prosper is my sweetheart. It's because of him that I have endured everything here and stayed by Ashley's side. This bastard... But you don't always believe me." "I want to believe you," said Thomas Levine. "I talked to Prospal and he told me he's known you for two years. The security had him arrested a year ago... . . . "Prosper Langdan has done many bad things, but this idiot can win the favor of women.He was arrested by the security department a year ago, and it was Peterson who interrogated him.Later a lady named Lily Barge went to intercede for Prospal.Peterson took a fancy to the woman, and he promised to be kind to Prosper.Lily Bage was forced to become Peterson's mistress, and Peterson let Prospal go.Now Thomas said: "Listen to me, ma'am. I can agree to protect Prospal, but only on one of my conditions..." "I understand what you mean." When he said this, a lukewarm smile flashed on the corner of Bare's mouth, and he twisted his body lazily. "I don't think you understand me," Thomas replied kindly. "Petersen is involved in the black-market trade in imperial credits. I need to find out how these credits got into France. If you will help us, then I will protect your Prosper " After hearing what Levin said, Li Li slowly sat up from the bed.She was indeed beautiful, Thomas thought to himself, what a flower in cow dung to fall in love with a bum!She would give her all for this scoundrel... This is life, how strange!Lily Bage said to him: "There is a picture hanging over there, the one called "Leda and the Swan". You can take it down from the wall." Thomas took the picture as she said. Take it down.At this time, he saw a small safe on the floor where the paintings were hung, which was locked with a combination lock.Li Li, who was sitting on the bed, said: "Dial the number to 47132." Thomas opened the safe according to Li Li's instructions.In the steel lattice there is only a black book and nothing else. "Erich Peterson is a tiresome man," said the lady sitting on the bed. "He writes down everything. Men, women, money. Look at him. From this diary, you will know everything." Thomas Levin did not sleep much that night.He spent most of the night reading Erich Peterson's diary.By daybreak, he knew everything about the biggest black market deal of the Great War. The next morning, he reported to Colonel Wirth, who sneaked back secretly: "It can be said that everyone has been involved in this incident! There are senior officials from the Reich Security Headquarters in Berlin, and there are also security leaders in Romania. And Manfred Killinger, the German envoy in Bucharest, it seems. And here in Paris the vanguard captain Raideke, that Himmler's brother-in-law!" "My God!" Colonel Wilt sighed weakly.Major Blanier was also fidgeting on the sidelines, nervously waiting for them to continue talking.Thomas said: "Anyway, it started with Redeker. In 1942 he was working with the security forces in Bucharest..." At that time the Romanians had nothing else to do but accept these imperial credit notes as payment funds. There is no other way.But if they could find someone to pay them in dollars or pounds or gold they'd love it, and it was the worst time for stocks.whatever!As long as you can quickly replace these waste papers, anything will do!Later Redeker was transferred to Paris.It was here that he met Peterson, the leader of the Vanguard.The two were congenial, and they partnered to make the business bigger.Peterson traveled all over France and used various means to engage in gold.Sometimes buying, sometimes stealing, sometimes extorting money, and sometimes confiscating other people's gold.The gold obtained was loaded on the postal plane of the security team and transported to Bucharest via Berlin.Both places have their reliable colleagues.So the security office in Bucharest used French gold to buy a large amount of imperial credit notes in Romania.Then these credit notes were packaged, written with the words "Confidential Instruction Object" and loaded onto the plane, which was transported to Paris via Berlin. "...The situation is exactly as the banker Ferud estimated." Thomas Levine said during the report: "Only the Germans can engage in such a huge black market speculation. Bought all of France with peace of mind. But Peterson never fully trusted Redeker. That's what Lily Barge told me. So he kept his hand and found a secret lodging. And that's why , He wrote down all the actions involving Redeker in a diary. He wanted to hold him in the palm of his hand." Thomas picked up the diary and shook his head. "It's not just Redeker's name on it. It's a lot of people's names. Gentlemen, with this diary, we can wipe out this gang!" "Hey, Levin. Listen to me." Werther murmured anxiously: "Do you understand who we are facing now? It's Himmler's brother-in-law! It's a special envoy! It's a senior official of the Security Department ! You said it yourself." "Because of this, what to do next must be carefully considered, Mr. Colonel!" Sixty minutes later, the pale-faced and restless Colonel Wilt and Major Blanier came to Thomas Levin's elegant and quiet villa on the edge of the Bois de Bois de Boulogne. conversational.Thomas asked his guest: "Why are you so sullen, gentlemen? Is it because that brother-in-law Himmler is so angry that you can't bear it?" "It would be great if this guy really reached the imminent field!" Wilt said sullenly. "Who are you referring to?" Thomas asked, eating a melon stick. "You!" Wilt said.Thomas swallowed the melon sticks in his mouth and asked, "Are you kidding me?" "It's a pity it wasn't a joke, Levin. The guards are just trying to get your eyebrows up. You know Blanier has contacts in the guards. I'm telling you he's been to Faucher Boulevard since we parted. After all, we still have Solved the Peterson murder in Toulouse. That's what he told Winther. At first he said something reassuring. Talking about the black market trade in Imperial Credits. Security guards in Paris. Didn't know anything about it. But then Winter mentioned you, Mr. Levin." "What did he say?" "He said now you're in at last." The door opened. "Ah, here comes our charming Nanet." Thomas exclaimed happily, rubbing his hands together. "She serves the ribs of Pamesan." The girl was so ashamed that her hair turned red from the roots. "Mr. Levin, please don't call me such a charming Nanette! You call me that, it makes me panic, and the bowl I'm carrying will slip on the floor and break!" Eat cold dishes.Nanette finished serving and walked away.Thomas said: "How's the taste of the ribs? Didn't you sprinkle too much pepper? Not much, that's good. Then tell me, how did I get involved? What's going on?" Blaney Erle asked sadly: "Do you know a woman named Milk?" Chamas yelled: "This annoying goblin, why don't I know her!" Blaineer said: "So what? , because this Milk has involved you." "And no one can help you now, Levin." Wirth said, cutting the ribs with a knife: "No one can, Blanier, go on." So the short major continued Tell what he learned from Winter. It turned out that about a week ago, Milk went to the house of the banner captain Eichel, and she said that she had had a violent quarrel with the commissioner Levin.She also said that on the night of September 21st she had seen Levin in a sleeping compartment on an express train bound for Marseilles.Accompanied by a very beautiful and very suspicious woman.At the end of the questioning of the passenger's identity it was revealed that the woman was a member of the Paris intelligence service, named Madeleine Knoll. "Will there be something famous in this?" asked the female captain.She suggested that Eichel go to inquire again... This is really good news for Eichel who hates Thomas!He quickly found out that on September 22, a Deutsche Post plane from Marseille to Madrid had a woman named Madeleine Knoll on board.She continued to fly to Lisbon, the Portuguese capital.Eichel also issued corresponding orders to his subordinates in Lisbon.His men moved quickly after receiving the order.It was not long before it was discovered that a woman named Madeleine Knoll had indeed arrived in Lisbon on September 21st.She still lived in that city, but under the pseudonym Yoni Desan.Johnny Desan...Eichel always felt that he had heard this name somewhere in the past.So he opened the hunting list to find out.Looking for a smug smile on his face.Johnny Desan, Professor Debosche's teaching assistant.For weeks the Gestapo had been hunting down the female fighters of this dangerous resistance group.And Thomas Levin actually protected her and got her an ID card from the German Secret Service! "Winter told me that Eichel has been in contact with Berlin." Blanier said, cutting a slice of salt potato with a knife: "Contact Himmler." "Brother-in-law of Mr. Redeker," said the colonel, "and Himmler went to Canaris again. This Canaris hung up on me half an hour ago, and he was very angry. You know we were with the security guards. Tensions at the office are tense enough! Now these things are happening again! I'm sorry, Levin, you're a good man. But I can't think of anything else to do. The security service has turned on you. You're going to be sent to prison. Military court, there is really no way, there is really no..." "There's a way, there's a way," Thomas said. "any idea?" "I think there's more to it, Mr. Blanier. I warn you not to eat too much meat. The best is yet to come, chocolate Barrat ham." "Levin, you're driving me crazy!" Wilt yelled, "Stop talking about food! What can I do to save you?" "Security wants to get me out. Well, then we'll get Mr. Redeker out. What day is it? Tuesday right? Well, then I'll see Captain Eichel tomorrow afternoon and get the False certificates are ruined so everyone can stop being embarrassed." "What? Are you going to see Eichel?" "Yes, to see him, of course. I am indeed very sorry for causing Mr. Canaris so much trouble." "But why are you still going to Eichel's?" "Because tomorrow is Wednesday, gentlemen." Thomas said mildly: "According to my black leather diary, every Wednesday a batch of Reichstags will be airlifted from Bucharest to Berlin. From this point of view, after eating After dinner we just need to make an accurate timetable. In fact, there will be no more mistakes at all...” Nanette smiled and put on a camel hair coat for her beloved Mr. Thomas Levine. The time was at sixteen o'clock on September 29, 1943.Thomas glanced out of the window, then turned to Nanette and asked: "Do you think it will be foggy today, pretty girl?" "No, sir. I don't think so..." "I hope the weather stays this fine," Thomas said. "Then some gentlemen are going to be on duty tonight." "Excuse me, sir. What did you say?" "Oh, nothing. I didn't say anything, Nanette. I raced them, and I'd love to win." Indeed, Thomas Levin had set up a race to the letter, and now he was running himself, and he set off an avalanche.Now he had to pay extra attention, feeling like he too was buried in the avalanche.Because he was about to leave to meet Eichel at the headquarters of the Paris Security Service on the Boulevard Faure... The operation had begun twenty-four hours earlier, and Thomas hoped to end it victorious.Colonel Wirth really wanted to save the commissioner's life sincerely.So he used a teletype to make a detailed report to Admiral Canaris.An hour later, the gray-haired Canaris arrived at Himmler's place and had a long secret talk with him.He reported the bad news he had learned to the head of the SS and the head of the German police... "I want to show them something!" Himmler was furious. At 18:30 on September 28, a special committee of senior SS leaders began its mission, and three members of this team flew to Bucharest via Vienna that night.At 7:15 on September 29, the three SS leaders arrested Anton Lindsay, the head of the Security Service, at Bucharest Airport, who was about to fly to Berlin.Opening his luggage, he found that it contained a lot of secret order items - the Imperial Credit Notes for Romania, worth 2.5 million marks, was found.At 8:30 the three SS officers appeared in the room of the Bucharest branch of the Security Service.These rooms are in an inconspicuous wing of the German embassy on Calle Viktoria.There are a large number of old French gold coins and a huge amount of imperial credit notes stored here.They arrested two people.At 13:50 on September 29, the postal plane from Bucharest landed at Berlin Staken Airport.The special committee immediately arrested a vanguard squadron leader named Walter Hansmann.Because he was restlessly asking the crew for a courier from Bucharest.After a little interrogation, Hansman confessed dejectedly that he was involved in the shady scene of the Imperial Credit Bond transaction.He revealed the names of four senior security chiefs who had been involved in the incident in Berlin.Around fourteen o'clock, these four people were arrested and locked behind bars... "Now we can have a good lunch," Thomas Levine said to Colonel Wirth in Paris, as they stood in front of a teletype.It was through this teletype that the general asked the major to constantly report to him on the situation here. "Looks like you're lucky, you fellow," said the major, laughing.Thomas knocked on the table and asked, "When did those gentlemen who are going to revenge and judge take off?" "Half an hour ago. There was an SS judge-martial, and two court-martials. Should have landed here between sixteen-thirty and seventeen." At sixteen-thirty Thomas asked the beautiful Nanette to help him put on his camel-hair coat, and as he walked down the street, he prayed inwardly that the heavens would keep the fog from falling.Since my three judges couldn't land in the fog, my plan to get revenge on those bastards in Faucher Avenue, who almost killed me at that time, wasn't perfect... Now Eichel, Winter, and Mr. Thomas met again, and Thomas sat across from them in a gray suit with his legs crossed.Eichel said: "Levin, we personally have no prejudice against you. On the contrary! I like that you have the courage to come here. But now it's about the great cause of the empire..." Winter said: " Go ahead and laugh, Levin. You won't be able to laugh at the court-martial." Eichel said: "Anything that benefits the German people is a good thing, and anything that harms the German people is a bad thing. And you do did harm to your people. I think you will admit it..." "May I ask a question?" Thomas bowed politely and asked, "May I ask if the time is ten past five, or is my watch slow?" Eichel glanced at Thomas. "Why can't you be a decent man forever, why don't you come to our side? You could have been the captain of the vanguard today. Your watch is very accurate." Thomas got up and walked to the window. , bent down and looked down.Then he raised his head and raised his eyes to the sky.No fog! "Gentlemen," said Thomas Levin, "tell me how you found me out." Then Eichel and his adjutant smugly stated that they had relied on Milk for their success. Knowing that Thomas Levine had obtained a Paris Defense Office ID for a dangerous female French Resistance fighter named Joni Desan and sent her to Lisbon as a German spy.Thomas listened to them amiably, and looked at his watch again.At this time Eichel became irritable, and he asked impatiently: "Is it necessary to persist until the end? Interesting, really interesting." Winter continued: "All the evidence to prove your guilt has been placed in the party. In front of the leader of the guard. The military court will be held to try you in a few days." Eichel said again: "No one can save you now. Colonel Wilt is useless. Admiral Canaris is useless. No one can save you." Thomas looked at his watch again.At this moment, an orderly rushed into the room in a panic and reported while saluting: "Three gentlemen from Berlin, Captain Banner. It is very urgent... Reich Security... Special Committee of Security Headquarters..." Just then they had come in.The SS judge, in his black uniform and black leather boots, looked menacing.The two court-martials were smaller and both wore spectacles, and the SS judge raised his hand in a German military salute.He said gloomyly: "Heil Hitler! Is it Captain Eichel? It's a pleasure to meet you, and I will give you the necessary explanation. Your name is..." "Pioneer Squadron Leader Winter..." "What about you?" said Eichel, recovering from his shock. "It's just a visitor. Now you can go, Herr Levin..." The SS judge heard him and asked: "It's the Einsatzgruppen." Long Thomas Levin?" "Not bad," replied Levin. "I beg you to stay and not go." "Mr. Captain Banner, please ask the captain of the vanguard, Redek, to come into the room. But don't let him hear what happened, understand?" After a while, Redek came into the room.There was a smile on his thin lips when he entered the door.But when he saw those visitors, his face changed abruptly.The SS judge said to Winter: "Go and search this man to see if he is armed!" Winter obeyed in a daze.Redeker began to choke up, and he slumped unsteadily into a chair.The SS judge cast him a sidelong contemptuous look and said: "Vanguard Commander, you are under arrest." The Himmler's brother-in-law could no longer control himself and wept bitterly.Suddenly Eichel screamed hoarsely: "What the hell is going on!" The tall judge answered him coldly, saying: "The captain of the vanguard team has been involved in a crime involving millions of marks!" The black market transaction of imperial credit notes. Together with the squadron leader Peterson, who was shot dead in Toulouse, he harmed the interests of the empire in an extremely despicable and shameless way. Further investigation will reveal who else was involved in the security service in Paris This case." Eichel stared blankly at the judge and asked, "I don't understand what you're saying at all... Who filed this terrible case?" The judge in black told him his name.After hearing the judge's words, Eichel was stunned.他的嘴张得老大，一对玻璃珠似的眼睛瞪着托马斯·列文，舌头都不听使唤了：“是您……您……您……” 党卫队法官走到托马斯·列文面前，一边同他握手一边说了如下一番话：“别动队长先生，我代表帝国党卫队的首领向您表示感谢并承认您的功绩。” “不用谢。”托马斯谦逊地说道：“这本来就是我乐意干的事情。” “帝国党卫队领袖要我转告您，他已同卡纳里斯将军取得了联系，在这件事情上不会对您采取不利的行动。” “希姆莱先生真是太好了。”托马斯·列文说道。 在帝国信贷券事件上，一共逮捕了二十三人，其中只有两个法国人和三个罗马尼亚人。审案是秘密进行的。两个法国人、一个罗马尼亚人和先锋队中队长汉斯曼被判处死刑，其余的被告均被判处多年的徒刑。雷德克判了八年。可是由于希姆莱的干预，他在瑞典仅仅蹲了半年的班房。后来根据这位帝国党卫队头子的命令，雷德克便获得释放并被召到柏林去了。他在柏林的一个下属岗位上一直工作到战争结束。 一九四三年十月十三日，意大利向德国宣战。十一月六日，俄国人攻占了基辅。在这年的冬季，法国的抵抗运动烈火愈烧愈旺，德国当局愈来愈控制不住局势了。托马斯·列文和他的朋友们坐在路德契亚饭店里冷眼观察着那些法国黑市商们的态度的变化。不久前这些人还同德国人搅得那么亲热。转眼间又摇身一变而为爱国者了。那些地下黑帮的大大小小的喽啰们也突然发现了自己胸中激荡起爱国热情，纷纷起来为抵抗运动效劳。 一九四四年三月二十三日，托马斯应一位法国商界朋友的邀请去参加了一次聚会。可是去了之后他觉得毫无兴味，直到后来出现了一位穿绿色晚礼服的女郎，他的情绪才一下子变得兴高采烈起来！这位绿衣女郎约莫有二十八岁，她的金发高高地挽在头上。眼珠是褐色的，那模样看起来有些象电影演员格蕾斯·凯列。“这人是谁？”托马斯迫不及待地向东道主打听。东道主向他做了介绍。“烦劳您为我引荐一下行吗？”托马斯问道。这位主人倒是爽快，马上就走过去把托马斯介绍给绿衣女郎。可是薇娜公主的脾气却正好截然相反。她那拒人于千里之外的冷若冰霜的傲岸态度托马斯还是生平第一次遇到！他尽量显示自己的优雅潇洒的风度，可是公主看透了他。淡淡地付之一笑。等到托马斯的阿谀奉承话说完，她问了一句：“您刚刚说这番话用意何在呀，列文先生。”这么一种待人接物的态度使托马斯异常的兴奋。他一下子就喜欢上了这个人！于是他问：“是不是可以约个时间再见见面。愿不愿意到歌剧院去听听歌剧……，要不我亲自下厨做菜请您品尝品尝好吗？大家都说我的手艺不错。我可以为您做点什么好吃的吗？您看明天行不行？” “非常抱歉，完全不可能。这个星期我每天晚上都在拉库莱先生家。您认识他吗？” “拉库莱？”托马斯好象在什么地方听到过这个名字，可又怎么也记不起来了。“不，我不认识他。他真是个幸运儿，您有那么多时间都同他在一起。” 两天之后那位冷若冰霜的公主意想不到地突然给托马斯家挂了电话，她请托马斯原谅那晚她对他那样冷淡。她说托马斯走了之后，她在东道主那儿了解到托马斯来自柏林，并且在巴黎开了一家私人银行。那位东道主只知道托马斯·列文是个银行家。除了有关人员外，在巴黎谁也不知道托马斯搞的间谍活动。“……我给您谈起过拉库莱先生您还记得吗？”托马斯听公主继续往下说：“您知道吗，他也是柏林人。就是说他是在科尼斯堡出生的……您不是同我说过您很会烹调么，正好他想出了一个好主意。他想吃科尼斯堡丸子……这菜我们这儿没人会做……您明天千万请到我们这儿来，我是说到拉库莱那儿去……” 托马斯答应了，但随即他便思索起来。拉库莱，拉库莱……我到底在哪儿听到过这个名字？托马斯向维尔特上校打听，可得到的答复仍然不能使他感到满意。上校告诉他奥斯卡·拉库莱是巴黎一家商务股份公司的老板。这家商行受国防军总司令部的汽车业全权代表的委托，在整个法国购买旧车来装备国防军。拉库莱办事精明能干，使他的委托人感到十分满意。是个能干的人，他过去在柏林只有几个车库，而现在发财了，发大财了……拉库莱，拉库莱……托马斯到底在哪儿听到过这个名字呢？ 这位先生住在派勒林荫大街的一幢官邸里。一位仆人出来打开大门，把托马斯领进了一个看上去犹如一家古董商店的接客厅。满壁都是画，地毯铺得很厚，好一副富商的气派！仆人把托马斯引进图书室，房主人正坐在图书室里打电话。这人给托马斯第一眼的印象就不好。大块头肥头大耳，四十岁的光景。圆脑袋额头窄小，浅黄色的短头发梳得又平又滑。一双泪汪汪咄咄逼人的眼睛，那张妇人似的小嘴上蓄着一撮浅黄色的胡子。托马斯进去的时候，他好像话还未说完。他示意托马斯找位子坐下来。他脸红脖子粗地对着话筒吼叫：“我要您放明白些，诺伊尼尔。您的老婆生不生病与我有什么相干！什么，什么，是我不对！谁叫你偷东西！是呀，这就是偷嘛！我要警告你，诺伊尼尔。你别惹恼了我，我会叫你滚蛋的！什么，不中用？才好笑呐，好啦，别说了。你被解雇了，无限期地解雇了！”拉库莱把听筒摔在叉架上，站起身来同托马斯打招呼：“您好，列文先生。认识您很高兴。刚才那人是我的一名会计。非骂他几句不可，越来越不像话了。这家伙不管还得了。”说着他和颜悦色地拍了拍托马斯的肩膀：“怎么样，咱们俩先干几杯，然后我就带您进厨房去。公主马上将到。我的夫人还没穿戴完毕，她总是如此。”托马斯发觉拉库莱的两根小指头上都戴着三只镶着特大钻石的戒指。他觉得这个人越来越讨厌了…… 这儿的厨房差不多同一家中等大小的饭店的厨房一样大。叫了一名厨娘、一名厨师和两个佣女来给托马斯打下手，拉库莱边饮果汁边看托马斯做菜。后来薇娜公主也到厨房里来了。今天她穿了一件鲜红色的晚礼服。第一次同托马斯面对时的傲慢神气不见了，倒是显得格外文雅。托马斯在往作料酱里放肉丸子的时候总觉得心里有一种强烈的预感，今天晚上肯定是个不愉快的夜晚。其实这算什么，后来同拉库莱夫人见面时，托马斯心里才产生了真正的恐惧。奥尔加·拉库莱满脸病容，一头枯黄的头发，她那憔悴的瘦脸上镶着两只暗淡失神的眼睛。而实际上她至多不过四十岁…… 餐桌上奥尔加·拉库莱一声不吭，她滴酒未沾，也几乎没吃一个丸子，突然间又见她那苍白的脸颊上挂满了泪珠。“你还是上楼去算了，奥尔加。”拉库莱鼻子里哼了一声，奥尔加站起来走了。“再来个丸子怎样，列文先生。”满面春风的丈夫问道。这时候公主含情脉脉地瞅着托马斯，这一切使托马斯厌烦得再也没心思吃饭了，真是倒胃口极了。吃完饭他们一同来到书房。在这里大家喝咖啡和法国科涅特酒的时候，那个胖家伙才把他葫芦里的药倒了出来。“我说列文，您是柏林人，我也是柏林人。您有一个银行，我的买卖也不算小。如今世道艰难，咱们不用兜圈子啦。你我都不用自欺欺人了，车轮陷在泥泞里开不动啦，马上就要撞车啦，得想条退路才行。不知您意下如何？” “我不明白您这话是从何说起，拉库莱先生？”托马斯冷冷地答复道。胖子尖声笑了起来：“您当然明白！您都听不明白，还有谁能听得明白呢？呵，您在瑞士不是存了些钱么！”拉库莱完全清楚他和他的朋友在法国有巨额的财产。要是托马斯能找到办法，通过他的私人关系把这笔财产转到瑞士去的话，那就不会给他带来不利的后果了：“对您真是有大利可图的，列文。”这时候托马斯终于忍无可忍，他推开椅子站起来说：“恐怕您找错人了吧，拉库莱先生。这种事我是不会做的。”话说到这儿，公主插进来了。“列文先生，要是您明白了拉库莱先生的朋友是些什么样的人物的话，或许您还是会对这笔买卖感兴趣的……” “听到过戈林这个名字吧！”胖子像猪一样咕噜着说：“博尔曼呢？希姆莱呢？罗仁贝尔格？我告诉您，几百万的好事儿，对您不也是一样的么？” “要想收买我是办不到的。” “真是笑话！有钱能使鬼推磨，鬼都可以收买，莫说是人！问题只在于要价的多少而已嘛！”这下真到了话不投机半句多的时候了。托马斯忽地起身告辞。他气坏了，这条肥猪，这个混蛋简直是里里外外从头到脚都坏透了。当托马斯走到衣帽间去找大衣的时候，公主悄悄地跟了过来。她说：“我也要走了，您可以送我回家。我就住在附近。”托马斯一声不吭，只是微微欠了欠身。他气得说不出话来了。 到了街上他仍然是一言不发，他像个哑巴假的把这位年轻的女人送到了她家门口。她掏出钥匙开了门锁，斜靠在围墙上：“您倒是怎么啦，托米？”此时她的声音听起来略略带点嘶哑。托马斯目不转睛地望着她。 "what?" “来呀，吻我……还等什么？”她边说边拉着他的袖子把他往自己胸前拉过来，双手抱住他使劲地吻他。“我要你爱我。”公主轻声地说。 当薇娜公主抱着他说着软软的情话的时候，他清楚地看见自己脑海里浮现出一个名字拉库莱！他终于想起了他为什么觉得这个名字这么耳熟的原因。原来就是那个已经被枪杀的彼得逊的黑皮日记本上写着这个名字！拉库莱……托马斯脑海里异常清楚地记得在这个名字后面还划了三个惊叹号。在这个名字的下面写着另一个名字的缩写V·V·C，而这个缩写名字后面还划了一个问号。 以往托马斯都乐意被人诱惑，喜欢扮演小姑娘的角色。可今天呢？无论这个贵族出身的金发姑娘有多大的诱惑力，他总觉得这位公主高深莫测，总给人一种莫名其妙的恐惧感，再说她所交往的人也真是太俗不可耐了。于是托马斯和气地然而也是坚决地推开了薇娜的手，说道：“今天晚上过得真愉快。我现在可以向您告辞了吗，尊贵的公主？”听了这话，那位胆大美人儿的褐色眼睛眯缝起来：“你大概发疯了是吧，托米。嗯，到了这时候你怎么可以让我一个人……”托马斯又一次向公主鞠躬：“尊敬的公主，我觉得您同拉库莱先生非常的亲密。我不想破坏你们之间的感情联系，那么和谐那么道德的感情联系。”他说完就拉开了门。她想拉住他，他挣开了。公主尖厉地叫道：“别走，你这个坏蛋！”她一边说一边赶上去用拳头捶他的胸膛。他转过身丢下那个激动万分的公主径自朝夜色朦胧的林荫大街走去。 托马斯回到自己别墅里，他掏出钥匙打开了大门，打开了走道里的电灯，脱下大衣，这天拿涅特休假回去了。突然他发现壁炉前的圈手椅上坐着一个人。蓄着修饰得很整齐的小胡子，罗马人似的鼻子，眼光里老是带有嘲讽的神色。他穿着一件稍稍有些旧的西装，手里拿着一只烟斗。他见托马斯进来，先吐了一口呛人的烟雾，然后一字一顿地说：“没想到吧，列文先生。” “晚上好啊，西蒙上校。”托马斯·列文对他说道。他叹了口气，打量着这个曾经与他一道经历过那么多风险的法国特务：“我们好久没见面了。”西蒙上校从椅子上站起来慷慨激昂地说道：“有个叫迪特利希的引我进来的，我的先生。您的把戏演完了。” “稍等一下，亲爱的。您的烟叶，您别生气，气味很难闻。您看那边儿有个蓝颜色的陶罐，看见了吗？那里边装的才是真格儿的英国烟叶。是德国国防军缴获的战利品。您抽哪国的烟不怎么介意吧？”法国间谍机关一直都苦于经费不够。如今这位贫穷的法国间谍迟疑了一下，还是把他烟斗里装好的烟抖了出来，朝那蓝色的陶罐走过去。他揭开盖子的时候，闷闷不乐地说道：“我本人其实一点儿也不想跟您做对，列文先生。过去就是我把您招到二处的嘛。不过现在您的把戏演完了。” “这话您刚才已经讲了一次。请您稍等一等，我马上就来洗耳恭听……”突然西蒙扔掉烟斗，掏出了手枪：“别到柜子那儿去！举起手来！” “别这样，上校先生。”托马斯不无惋惜地摇了摇头：“您怎么还是同过去一样胆小？” “您少给我来这一套！您骗我办不到！您是想去开柜子对不对？” "Yes." “然后从那里面拿枪出来逼我，对不对？” “这就不对了。柜子里没有武器。” “那是什么呢？” “那是我装饮料的柜子。我本来想拿点什么出来咱俩喝喝。”上校大步跨了过去，一把拉开雕花柜子的盖子一看，脸上显出了尴尬的红晕。他唧唧哝哝地自我解嘲似的说：“干我们这行的随时都得小心谨慎才行，这您是知道的。”托马斯端起杯子拿瓶子，站在一旁的西蒙还补充了一句：“尤其是在一个像您这样的叛徒面前更得加倍小心。” “加不加苏打？” “加上吧。尤其是在像您这样一个翻手云覆手雨的叛变过三四次的老滑头面前更得加倍小心，列文先生。” “连点色彩都没有，对吧。还来点威士忌怎么样？”西蒙怒气冲冲地转过脸去。托马斯满怀同情地打量着他。总的说来托马斯并不讨厌这个天性活泼的鲁汉子。他说道：“非常抱歉，上校。” "why?" “打扰了您的好事儿。您说说现在那个迷人的米密日子过得怎么样？” "how could I know!" “这是什么话，上校先生！您从我身边夺走了米密！你们还想结婚生孩子，养几个法国的小爱国者……可现在您竟然不知道她日子过得怎么样？”上校闷声闷气地回答：“米密已经扔下我走了。一年前就离开了我，谁能料到呢？” “管它呢，咱们还是为米密的健康干杯吧。我问您当您想到这个可爱的人儿曾把我扔下走了的时候，您是不是觉得可以聊以自慰呢？” “没这么想过。” “够朋友。那么现在您给我解释解释为啥我的把戏演完了。” “刚才您没让我把话说完。我不是说您的把戏演完了，我是说要是您再不立刻停止对那个公主的纠缠的话，那您的把戏就要演完了。” “请您相信我的确没再纠缠她。” “您放正经点儿好不好！这可是要丢脑袋的事！我警告您，列文。您干的事情在我们那儿都是立了案的……” “我的上帝，哪家间谍机构没有这些东西！” “我最后一次警告您，列文。您别指望您这两片尖酸刻薄的嘴皮子救您的命。您知道现在的法国抵抗运动已经激烈到了何种程度。我们天天都可以，只要我们愿意，把你们这些人干掉。您也没什么例外！只不过每次在您面前我总是下不了手……” “别这样！” “是呀，多少往事，我俩一道从巴黎逃出来，米密……图卢兹……德布拉上校……约瑟芬·巴克……可是，如果您继续照顾那位公主，继续照顾那位拉库莱先生的话，那我就没法再保护您啦……”听了这些话托马斯感到异常地惊讶。“您说什么来着？难道法国的间谍机关会关心照顾他一位胖纳粹黑市商人的身体健康么？” “据我看来，那位拉库莱先生是那些在法国上蹿下跳的最重要的人物之一。”托马斯·列文坐在巴黎的路德契亚饭店的一个房间里这样分析，坐在他面前的是维尔特上校和少校布莱尼尔。他们意味深长地交换了一下眼色：“你们干嘛交换眼色呢，先生们？” “列文呐。”维尔特上校叹了口气说道：“布莱尼尔和我只不过对视了一下。因为我们了解您生气的根源。我只说一点薇娜。” “薇娜公主。”布莱尼尔补充了这句话便吃吃地笑个不停。“别这么怒气冲冲地对我们吹胡子瞪眼睛的，列文先生！自从保安处盯上您之后，我们对您也留心些了……”托马斯听了他俩的话不觉怒从中来：“那个公主与我有什么相干！根本就无所谓！”布莱尼尔又吃吃地笑了起来。“您嘻嘻哈哈地有什么好笑的！我告诉你们，那个拉库莱是个臭气熏天的大猪猡！而那个公主同他一起搞黑市！连法国间谍也机关都在盯这两人的暗梢！” “可不可以给我们透露一下法国间谍机关里哪一位在盯他们的暗梢啊？”维尔特上校问托马斯。Thomas nodded. “您说拉库莱先生想把波尔曼、希姆莱和罗仁贝尔格的财产转移到瑞士去。唉，您难道还没受够？难道您想同阿道夫·希特勒本人吵架不成？” “列文先生，我劝您还是考虑考虑……”少校也开口说起来。 他捧着三束兰花于晚上九点来到薇娜公主的家里。公主戴着昂贵的首饰，穿一件前胸后背都露得很诱惑人的短短的黑色晚礼服，她为托马斯放她那些新买的唱片。他们跳起了舞。然后又一道喝玫瑰色的香槟酒。托马斯觉得薇娜公主真是漂亮。他把他的感觉向她讲了。她也告诉他说她认为托马斯是天底下最能打动女人的男人。于是没费多少口舌，到了将近十一点钟的时候他俩便躺到大沙发上。托马斯还从未被一个女人如此狂热地亲吻过。这位公主薇娜唧唧哝哝地在他耳边一再说着：“我太喜欢你了……” “我也喜欢你，薇娜……非常喜欢。” “那你愿意为我做点儿事吗？” “得看看是什么事？” “为我把衣扣解开好吗？” "OK……" “你能再为我做点儿事？” "certainly!" “那就别去找拉库莱的麻烦。” "What did you say?" “我叫您别再去麻烦拉库莱了。”她仍然躺在沙发上，一双审视的眼睛一动也不动地盯着托马斯：“几个星期以来，你都在暗中监视他的行踪。对不对，我的小托米？”他没有回答。“或许你不太喜欢我叫你托米。”公主又说：“或许该叫你让才好。让·列布朗，要不叫你皮埃尔好吗？皮埃尔·于内贝尔？”托马斯站了起来。他觉得心中一下子涌起了许多稀奇古怪的感觉。“于内贝尔这个名字你觉得还是不合适吗？那叫你阿尔曼·德肯行不行？还记得你那时怎么干法国黑市买卖的吗，阿尔曼？还记得你把法国游击队也弄进去了。卡普坦·罗伯特·阿尔芒·埃菲雷。”听到这儿，托马斯有些紧张起来，连呼吸都急促了。“要不，还记得你在一位德国将军面前冒充美国外交官罗伯特·S·墨菲吗？喏，还要我往下说吗，我的可爱的迷人的德国谍报局的特工人员？要不，你后来又换了马，加入了别的团体？” “没有。”托马斯说。他控制住自己的怒气：“我一直还在德国谍报局，你呢？” “我？你猜猜看！” “我一想到你那个大腹便便的情人，我就想说盖世太保。”托马斯粗暴地回答她。公主尖叫了一声，忽地从沙发上跳起来。托马斯还没来得及退开，左右两边脸上已经挨了好几个耳光。她一反打情骂俏的语调吼起来：“你这个要饭的花子，你说的什么话，你这个臭要饭的！我在想法救你的命，而你呢？”托马斯回身朝门边走去。“别走呀，托米！行了行了，你想把拉库莱怎样就把他怎样好啦。你别走！”托马斯一声不吭地走出客厅。“我要报复您，你这个无耻的畜牲……求求你，回来，我求求……”托马斯重重地关上门，跑着下了楼梯。 托马斯飞快地冲到街上，同一个人撞了个满怀。那人压住声音叫了一声：“唔哟，怎么搞的！” “您快给我走开！” “没这个必要。”于勒·西蒙上校冷冷地回答道：“我在这儿守了两个钟头了，看见您进去，看见您出来的。” “妈的，好一个能干的特务！” “您无视我的警告又来找公主。要不了多久您就得埋在棺材里睡觉了！” “……房子前面守着一个法国情报局的家伙。”托马斯次日在路德契亚饭店里向维尔特上校和布莱尼尔讲述着，他的气还没有消。“到底这个公主扮演的是什么角色？” “这我还不知道。不过我很快就会弄明白的……上校先生，我向您发誓我要干掉那个家伙，我……”维尔特打断了他的话：“别再提拉库莱了，列文。我今天挨了一顿臭骂。参谋部叫我立刻撤销对拉库莱的监视。此人是大西洋防线的灵魂！拉库莱能提供各种缺销的商品。德国条顿骑士团和德国国防军总司令没有这个人的话就撑不下去了！比如电话线……有次条顿团没电话线了，拉库莱就给他们运去了十二万米！”托马斯叹了口气说：“好吧，不提他了。人家骂了您上校先生，我知道您心情不佳。可是您亲爱的布莱尼尔，您干嘛也哭丧着脸呢？”少校把手一甩：“生气呗。收到了家信，妻子病了，六月份我那儿子的考试肯定过不了关。拉丁语和物理。还有就是妈的交不完的税……”托马斯心不在焉地问道：“您同税务局还有瓜葛吗，布莱尼尔先生？” “就因为我这个在几年前给一家国防政治论文出版社写过几篇文章！我忘了到税务局去申报！人家对这家出版社来了一次书刊检查，有个混蛋会计说出了我的姓名，就是为这个！”这时候，托马斯含含糊糊地说：“一个会计……”突然托马斯从椅子上一跃而起，他嘶声哑气地喊叫了一声，抱住布莱尼尔使劲地亲了下他的额头，便飞也似的从办公室里冲了出去。布莱尼尔的脸涨得通红。从来没有一个男人亲过他。他揉了揉额头说：“疯了疯了，别动队长疯了！” “永远不会。”瘦骨嶙峋面色蜡黄的会计安东·诺伊尼尔说道：“列文先生，我永远不会忘记您对我的好处！” “还是快吃吧，诺伊尼尔先生，不然您的汤要凉了。”托马斯和气地说。他把这个衣着简朴的诺伊尼尔请到他的别墅里来吃饭。这两位先生是一周前才相互认识的。不久前诺伊尼尔先生还是奥斯卡·拉库莱的商务股份公司的会计。就在托马斯到拉库莱家去作客那天晚上，拉库莱在电话里把他这个会计大骂了一通并把他解雇了。当时托马斯是头一次听见诺伊尼尔这个名字。在布莱尼尔抱怨税务局的时候，他又想起了这个名字。这个干瘦的会计服服帖帖地喝了一勺子汤，然后又放下汤勺，目不转睛地望着托马斯，眼光里满含着期待的神色。“我到现在还一直闹不明白拉库莱先生为啥要把我赶出来。我的妻子眼睛都快哭瞎了。我真想跑到俄国去算了。谁知这时候遇上了您。咱俩素无往来，而您还给我介绍工作。这到底是为了什么？” “诺伊尼尔先生，我是个银行老板。我知道商务股份公司，我还知道您是一个很能干的人。好多人都这么说的！我也完全不能理解拉库莱先生把您这样一个人赶走到底是为了什么……”诺伊尼尔俯在餐盘上埋头吃着，听到托马斯这样说，他脸上的肌肉又抽动了一下：“就为了十八马克二十五芬尼。” “什么？十八马克？” “对的，您没听错。我给他当牛做马干了整整三年。”于是诺伊尼尔给托马斯讲起来。说他那次在办公室里工作到很晚的时候，觉得肚子实在饿了，就到一家馆子吃晚饭，吃完后未经拉库莱同意，便用公司的钱垫了饭钱。这事后来被那个胖子查出来了，所以立刻就把诺伊尼尔开除了。“其实他做生意的时候，岂止这点儿……我告诉您，列文先生……” “有意思。” “……不过我不会讲的，无论拉库莱先生对我多么坏，我不会当叛徒，我不是那号人……”这时美貌的侍女拿涅特端来了主菜。诺伊尼尔说：“刚才的汤味儿真是美极了。但愿现在别来什么煎菜才好。因为我有病，胃里长了肿瘤。您知道的。” “有个菜是清炖仔鸽，是由水和黄油清炖的。我知道您应该吃些什么。” “亲爱的列文先生，您真是太体贴了。” “哪里哪里，再说您肯定比那个胖子拉库莱先生活得长久。这个人太贪吃了，做生意也太贪了……” “这个人的确是太贪吃了。”诺伊尼尔也随口说道：“总有一天他要死在他那些汽车上。”说到这时他突然惊恐地收住了口。“请吃呀，这是花菜。仔鸽味道怎么样？” “好极了，甚至住在利维拉我都没尝到过这么美味可口的东西。”托马斯的头脑里的警铃又叮铃铃响了起来。诺伊尼尔这个衣着朴实的会计会到利维拉去？“是尼格雷斯科饭店的一位厨师教会我这种烹调方法的。”托马斯说：“那会儿我一直住在那儿，房子漂亮极了……” “哈哈哈，这对拉库莱先生说来花钱太多了。我指的是我，是花在我身上的钱太多了。他本人住在那儿，我得去住便宜的房子。他需要我，因为我会讲法语。” “他也太只顾自己的了，这个拉库莱先生。”这个完全不知道深浅的诺伊尼尔还在眉飞色舞地往下说：“我们那时候经常坐车到利维拉去，一直开到法国、西班牙边界。我们的生意……”突然他咬住嘴唇狐疑地看了托马斯·列文一看。可托马斯爽朗地微笑起来说道：“您再来点儿蜜饯呀，诺伊尼尔先生。现在您给我讲讲尼查城的情况好吗？我好长时间没到那儿去了……” 布莱尼尔少校和别动队长列文被派往利维拉。在为期三周的时间内他们调查出奥斯卡·拉库莱在这里至少搞到了三百五十辆外国厂商的完好无损的汽车。其中部分是收购来的，部分是派人到那些离家出去的人家的车库里偷来的。拉库莱在尼格雷斯饭店处理这些业务，他手下有一个帮手，即做会计又兼当译员，此人名叫诺伊尼尔。拉库莱将车弄到以后，派人将车拆成零件。他在维奇市通过贿赂搞到了汽车配件输出许可证。于是他将这些拆卸下来的汽车运往马德里，然后在马德里重新组装成豪华的车辆以高价出售…… 一九四四年五月二十九日晚上，托马斯·列文给薇娜公主带去了一束红玫瑰，前一天这位少见的女贵族又一次给他挂了电话邀请他去她那儿作客。托马斯觉得公主从未像今天这么动人。薇娜说：“今天晚上我保证绝口不提拉库莱，这下行了吧！”他们跳舞、调情、听唱片。夜深了，他们情不自禁地搂抱亲吻起来。俩人觉得再没有一道厚墙横陈在他俩之间了，所有的隔阂都已消除，一切都显得自然而简单。这时响起了电话铃声。 “管它呢。”薇娜困乏地说。她脉脉含情地望着托马斯轻轻地抚摸他。The phone rang incessantly.末了薇娜不得不取下电话来，她先通报了姓名然后听了一会儿，她的脸色变了。她从沙发上坐起来眼睛里喷射着仇恨的火焰。她咬牙切齿地对托马斯骂道：“你这个狗东西……你这个该死的狗东西……” “心肝宝贝，怎么了？”薇娜突然对着话筒尖叫起来：“我听不下去了……我听不下去了……”她把耳机掷到大沙发上，气得浑身不停地发颤。她用不堪入耳的话骂托马斯。托马斯拣起耳机，一个激动不安的声音在叽哩呱啦地叫着：“……我说薇娜，我的天呐，您倒是听听呀。这是列文的责任，我不是给您说过了嘛！我们没办法了……” “夜安，西蒙上校。”托马斯冷笑着对话筒说了一句，把