Page 118 of The Last Library of Paris

Marcus opened his mouth, but he didn’t speak. He tried to sit up and we both said ‘woah’ and settled him back down.

‘We’ll help her.’ I didn’t think about how. ‘I promise.’

Leaning back against the pillows, Marcus gave a deep sigh. With what seemed to be enormous effort he said: ‘Frances has my books.’ He took another breath. ‘Stories from Jews in Berlin and Paris and …’ He paused for so long, I thought he had lost consciousness. ‘Belgium,’ he said eventually. ‘I need their voices to be heard.’ He reached out his hand and grasped mine in his cold fingers. ‘Find the books.’

‘We will,’ I said.

Marcus’s grip loosened and his breathing became more uneven as he fell asleep.

‘That explains why Digby couldn’t get hold of him,’ I said in a low voice. ‘But he’s left Frances behind?’

Henry nodded. ‘He sounded quite sure she was safe, though.’

‘Do you think she’s hiding in the library? Digby said they’d looked for her.’

‘I have no idea.’ Henry shrugged.

‘The ambulance is here to take him to hospital,’ said Julia, appearing in the room.

Henry and I nodded. ‘Thank you. We’ll let Digby know he’s gone,’ I said. ‘Please let us know how Marcus is doing, won’t you?’

‘Of course.’

I gave Marcus a little pat on the shoulder. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘Get well.’ Then Henry and I walked back to the office.

As soon as we got inside, I shut the door firmly and turned to him.

‘We’re going to Paris,’ I said, just as I’d said before.

‘I knew you were going to say that,’ he replied, just as he’d done before.

‘But you agree now that we need to go?’

He paused, and then he nodded. ‘We’re the only ones who know where Frances is. She could be starving or injured. By the time we get word to Paris, it could be too late.’

‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘Good.’

I paced across the office and back again.

‘The question is, how will we get there?’ I said. ‘Could we go up the escape lines in reverse? Marcus said the Resistance helped him.’

‘No, I don’t think so. Digby’s right that it would take a long time.’ Henry looked worried. ‘Perhaps we could drive. Find a car somewhere.’

I allowed myself a small smile. ‘Perhaps we could take Archie’s.’

Henry chuckled. ‘Not if we want to be incognito. There’s a reason he didn’t take his own when he went to Spain.’

‘I wish there was a train,’ I said. ‘Like the SudExpress.’

The overnight train between Lisbon and Paris had continued during the early months of the war, but it had stopped. And it was expensive – affordable only for the very highest echelons of society. Many of the early refugees had been exiled royals and aristocrats from Europe, who’d arrived in Lisbon on the SudExpress.

‘Hang on,’ said Henry. ‘I think the SudExpress still runs every now and then. The Nazis operate it. They use it to move officers and staff around.’

‘It does?’

‘Yes, Val mentioned it. It’s infrequent and expensive, but it exists.’

‘But it’s for Nazis?’