“ It sounds wonderful, Noelle. It’ s not easy for me to get away right now,” he added apologetically.“ I am in the middle of—”
“ I understand,” Noelle interrupted icily,“ perhaps some other time.”“ Wait!” There was a long pause.“ When could you get away?”“ Saturday night after the show.”“ I will make arrangements,” he said.“ We can fly down—”“ Why don’ t we drive?” Noelle asked.“ It’ s so pleasant.”“ Whatever you like. I’ ll pick you up at the theater.”
Noelle thought quickly.“ I have to come home and change first. Pick me up at my apartment, would you?”
“ As you wish, my liebchen. Until Saturday night.”
Fifteen minutes later Noelle was speaking to the concierge. He listened as she talked, shaking his head in vigorous protest.
“ No, no, no! I will tell our friend, Mademoiselle, but he will not do it. He would be a fool to! You might as well ask him to go down and apply for a job at Gestapo headquarters.”
“ It can’ t fail,” Noelle assured him.“ The best brain in France figured it out.”
When she walked out of the entrance of her apartment building that afternoon, she saw a man lounging against the wall pretending to be engrossed in a newspaper. As Noelle stepped into the crisp, winter air, the man straightened up and began to follow her at a discreet distance. Noelle strolled the streets slowly and leisurely, stopping to look into all the shop windows.
Five minutes after Noelle left the building, the concierge came out, glanced around to make sure he was not observed, then hailed a taxi and gave the address of a sporting goods shop in Montmartre.
Two hours later the concierge reported to Noelle.“ He will be delivered to you Saturday night.”
Saturday night when Noelle finished her performance, Colonel Kurt Mueller of the Gestapo was waiting for her backstage. A frisson of apprehension went through Noelle. The escape plan had been worked out to a split-second timing, and there was no room for any delays.
“ I saw your performance from out front, Fräulein Page,” Colonel Mueller said.“ You improve each time.”
The sound of his soft, high-pitched voice brought her dream back vividly.“ Thank you, Colonel. If you’ ll excuse me, I have to change.”