Page 69 of The Last Library of Paris

He nodded at me, and I felt a moment of understanding pass between us.

‘I have Jewish friends,’ I said. ‘Here in Paris. Perhaps I could add their stories?’

‘That would be good,’ Marcus said. ‘Important.’

‘Then I’ll speak to them. Their lives are changed so completely to how they were, I’m surprised every day that they keep going.’

‘The resilience of ordinary people is always surprising,’ Marcus said. ‘So, you’ll keep this book safe?’ he asked. ‘And the others?’

I got up and went to the shelf behind my desk. ‘This is my special bookshelf,’ I told him. ‘It’s all the books that mean something to me.’ I grinned. ‘But it’s also whatever I’m reading at the moment. Something that caught my eye that I fancy reading in the future. Something I read recently.’ I ran my fingers along the books. ‘This is here because it has a ripped spine and I meant to get it mended, but I haven’t.’

‘I can mend that,’ Marcus said, holding out his hand.

‘Really?’

‘Of course.’ He gave me a quick smile. ‘It gives me a reason to be working on the books, too. If the men I live with question what I’m up to, I’ll say I’m doing a favour for a friend.’

I handed the book over and he slid it into his bag.

‘What I’m saying is, no one will move a book from this shelf because it is mine,’ I said. ‘But also, no one will think a book is special or out of the ordinary because it’s on this shelf.’

‘It’s the perfect hiding place,’ Marcus said. ‘Thank you.’

Chapter 18

Cassie

Lisbon

My head was full of books, and safe-house addresses, and visa applications and I was loving every minute.

‘Give us an update on where we are,’ Valentine said as we all gathered the following morning. Not early, of course. Valentine had strolled in after ten o’clock, though Henry and I had been in the office for hours by then.

‘I went round the houses a bit to get there, but I’ve spoken to the top man at Peacock Books,’ I said. ‘His name is Robert Lang. He served in the last war, and he’s very keen to help. I didn’t tell him the details, obviously. I just said we were setting up a programme to distribute books in training, and I said I was part of the Ministry of Information.’

‘So, they can provide the numbers of books we need?’ Valentine asked.

‘He’s going to confirm. He did sound a little daunted when I told him just how many we wanted, but then he quickly became rather chipper about the whole thing, which was encouraging.’

‘I bet it was,’ said Valentine. ‘Probably imagining his bank balance.’

‘I didn’t get that impression,’ I said, truthfully. ‘He was so flattered when I said we had seen his Forces Book Club editions and we wanted to spread them far and wide. He’s a nice man.’

‘Good,’ said Valentine. ‘Good. Henry?’

‘I’ve also been using the Ministry of Information,’ Henry said. ‘I spoke to Greene. He’d already been briefed – I assume that was you?’

Valentine nodded.

‘Anyway, he thought this books idea was marvellous.’

Valentine grinned. ‘He’s published by Peacock.’

Henry chuckled. ‘He didn’t mention that. But he’s going to get a team together to stamp the books. And he can arrange for the stamps to be made.’

‘We are moving forward,’ said Valentine. ‘Next we need to sort out distribution …’

‘How about you?’ I interrupted before he could move on. ‘Any luck with the sleeper agent?’