“ Nothing. Why did you want to see me?” He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice.“ I need a favor. A friend—”
At that moment, the door opened and four German soldiers in gray-green uniforms walked into the bistro, led by a corporal. The corporal called out in a loud voice:“ Achtung! We wish to see your identity papers.”
Israel Katz stiffened, and it was as though a mask fell into place. Noelle saw his right hand slide into the pocket of his overcoat. His eyes flickered toward the narrow passageway that led to an exit in the rear, but one of the soldiers was already moving toward it, blocking it. Israel said in a low urgent voice,“ Get away from me. Walk out the front door. Now.”
“ Why?” Noelle demanded.
The Germans were examining the identification papers of some customers at a table near the entrance.
“ Don’ t ask questions,” he commanded.“ Just go.”
Noelle hesitated a moment, then rose to her feet and started toward the door. The soldiers were moving on to the next table. Israel had pushed his chair back to give himself more freedom. The movement attracted the attention of two of the soldiers. They walked over to him.
“ Identity papers.”
Somehow Noelle knew that it was Israel the soldiers were looking for and that he was going to try to escape and they would kill him. He had no chance.
She turned and called out to him,“ François! We are going to be late for the theater. Pay the check and let’ s go.”
The soldiers looked at her in surprise. Noelle started back toward the table.
Corporal Schultz moved to face her. He was a blond, apple-cheeked boy in his early twenties.“ Are you with this man, Fräulein?” he asked.
“ Of course I am! Haven’ t you anything better to do than pester honest French citizens?” Noelle demanded, angrily.
“ I am sorry, my good Fräulein, but …”
“ I am not your good Fräulein!” Noelle snapped.“ I am Noelle Page. I am starring at the Variétés Théâtre, and this man is my costar. Tonight, when I am having supper with my dear friend, General Hans Scheider, I shall inform him of your behavior this afternoon and he will be furious with you.”
Noelle saw the look of recognition come into the corporal’ s eyes, but whether it was a recognition of her name or General Scheider’ s, she could not be sure.
“ I— I am sorry, Fräulein,” he stammered.“ Of course I recognize you.” He turned to Israel Katz, who sat there silently, his hand in his coat pocket.“ I do not recognize this