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By Root 498 0

and one woman, and they were using a method of surveillance that I have always thought of as something like a cat’s cradle, in the way that agents move to and fro, zigzagging across the road. Initially I was followed by the man I had already seen in Fitzroy Square; then a man walking in front of me stopped to look in a shopwindow. At that point a woman crossed from the opposite side of the road as the man behind walked past me, and she took his place. The man who had stopped then took up a position on the opposite side of the road again, and so it went on—one person stopped, and they all changed places. I entered Goodge Street station, bought a ticket, and went through the turnstile, but a group of students—I assume they were students—managed to get into the queue before the people following me. And yet all three were on the platform just seconds behind me, and before the students. I suspect their warrant cards had gained them immediate access to the platform.” Maisie looked from Huntley to MacFarlane. “Am I right?”

Huntley gave no indication as to the accuracy of Maisie’s account. “And then?”

“On that occasion I simply traveled on the underground for a while, visited a friend’s office, just to make it seem as if I had been on a genuine errand, and then returned to Fitzroy Square.”

“Not exactly to Fitzroy Square, though,” said MacFarlane.

“No, I made a detour to Burlington Arcade. My document case was destroyed some months ago and I thought it was about time I bought another, so I went along to the arcade and purchased a new one. And of course, it was interesting, observing the way in which your agents arranged themselves in the arcade.”

“And then?”

“I made my way back to Tottenham Court Road, and before returning to the office I stopped in Heals and bought a—” She held out a hand to Huntley. “Your turn.”

“Sofa. You bought a sofa. Very nice, too.”

“My flat is somewhat spartan; I felt it needed something a little more welcoming in the drawing room.”

“Did you see the men again?”

“Do you wish me to give you a complete list?” She faced MacFarlane. “Robbie?”

“A brief synopsis will do,” interjected Huntley.

Maisie sighed. “The GPO van outside the block of flats where I live in Pimlico provided a cover for two men working on the connection to the flats. I do hope I don’t have to have my new telephone ripped out for fear that you are listening to every call.”

“Go on.” Huntley did not look up as he spoke but continued looking through a dossier that lay open on his knee.

“I was followed to and from work, and down to my house on the Chelstone Manor estate last Friday. I’d finally had enough during the journey back to London this morning, which was when I intercepted two men and gave a message to pass on to Det—to Robbie.”

Huntley looked up, smiling. “And as I said to Robbie here, I thought taking the driver’s wallet from the poor man’s inside pocket was a little forward.”

Maisie did not return his smile. “I’m sure you did, Mr. Huntley. I catch on fairly quickly. You should have remembered that you did not go undetected in France.”

“Quite right. Very impressive.”

“What’s this all about?” asked MacFarlane.

Huntley ignored the question as he folded the dossier, placed it on the table, and leaned back in his chair. “To get right to the point, Miss Dobbs, we have a job for you. This meeting is in absolute confidence, as I am sure you understand. I know I have no need to say that, but I am required to, and I am also required to ask you to sign documents to that effect at the end of this meeting.”

Maisie nodded.

“Special Branch is involved, given that this assignment pertains not only to matters of interest to my department, but to the problem of aliens entering Britain for purposes that might not be as described to authorities at the ports of entry—which as you know comes under the purview of Special Branch.” Huntley opened the dossier and handed Maisie a clutch of papers, each stamped with Official: Top Secret. “You will see that this report details the activities of one Greville Liddicote.”

“I’ve heard of him,” said