The Honor of Spies

Office of the Ambassador

The Embassy of the German Reich

Avenida Cordoba

Buenos Aires, Argentina

1150 24 September 1943

"Baron von Wachtstein would like to see you for a moment, Exzellenz," Fraulein Ingeborg Hassell announced.

"Give me a few seconds, please," von Lutzenberger said, and quickly swept into his desk drawer a large manila envelope and a letter, and then--as an afterthought--took the yellow diplomatic pouch from which he had taken the manila envelope and also put it in the well of his desk.

Then he signaled for Fraulein Hassell to show in von Wachtstein. When von Wachstein entered, Kapitan Dieter von und zu Aschenburg was on his heels.

"We're sorry to disturb you, Exzellenz," von Wachtstein said politely, and then, looking around the room, added, "Gentlemen."

Cranz and von Gradny-Sawz were sitting at von Lutzenberger's conference table.

Von Wachtstein went on: "But I have an idea to get Kapitan von und zu Aschenburg onto one of the Constellations. I'd like to ask permission to try."

"How are you going to do that?" the ambassador asked.

"Senorita de Carzino-Cormano is a friend of the kapitan. I think she can suggest to her mother that it would be a courtesy to give von und zu Aschenburg a tour."

"And you think Frade would allow that?" von Gradny-Sawz challenged sarcastically.

"He's in Santiago, Herr Gradny-Sawz."

"And why would Senorita de Carzino-Cormano want to do this?" von Gradny-Sawz challenged.

"Open your eyes, for God's sake, Gradny-Sawz," Cranz said. "She looks at von und zu Aschenburg like he gives milk." He smiled at von und zu Aschenburg. "I was about to commend you for being willing to make any sacrifice for the cause, Aschenburg, but then I thought that your . . . charming . . . the lady isn't really going to be that much of a sacrifice, is it?"

"May I suggest I know the lady better than you do?" von und zu Aschenburg said. "But I really would like to get a look at one of those airplanes."

"I wish she were as interested in me as she is in you," Cranz said. "I would happily make the sacrifice you're implying."

There was dutiful laughter.

"Go ahead," Cranz said. "What have you got to lose?"

"As a gentleman, I obviously must decline to answer that question," von und zu Aschenburg said.

"With your permission, Exzellenz?" von Wachtstein asked.

"Let me know how it comes out," von Lutzenberger said.

Von und zu Aschenburg and von Wachtstein left, closing the door after them.

Cranz got up, walked to the door, locked it, and then went back to the conference table.

"May I have another look at that, please?" Cranz asked.

Von Lutzenberger handed him the letter that had been inside the manila envelope, the only thing that the diplomatic pouch had held.

"Von Wachtstein knows nothing of this, right?" Cranz asked. "You didn't let anything slip, Gradny-Sawz?"

"Of course not."

"And Boltitz?" Cranz pursued.

"No, he doesn't know anything about this. The only people who do are in this room, plus of course Raschner."

"I want it kept that way," Cranz said. "And your covert identity arrangements . . . Everything is in place?"

"Including, as of yesterday, a nice flat--two servants included--in a petit-hotel at O'Higgins 1950 in Belgrano."

Cranz nodded and said: "So all that remains is to see Oberst Peron, to get those Mountain Troops to provide security on the beach, and to move the special shipment and the SS guard detail to San Martin de los Andes. The latter may pose a problem."

"How so?"

"The incident at Frade's house upset Oberst Peron," Cranz said. "But I think I can deal with him."

[THREE]

Apartamento 5B

Arenales 1623

Buenos Aires, Argentina

1750 24 September 1943

El Coronel Juan Domingo Peron was in uniform, but his tunic was unbuttoned and his tie pulled down, when he came out of his apartment onto the elevator landing. He was not smiling.

"Commercial Counselor" Karl Cranz was not surprised. The portero in the lobby of the building had told Cranz--as he obviously had been instructed to do--that Peron was not at home, and it had been necessary to slip him ten pesos--and, when that didn't work, ultimately fifty--before he was willing to forget his instructions and telephone Peron's apartment only when Cranz was on the elevator and it was too late to stop him.

"Mi coronel," Cranz said as charmingly as he could, "please believe me when I say I would not intrude on your privacy were it not very im - portant."

Peron did not reply to that directly. Instead, he said, "I didn't know you knew where I lived, Cranz."

"I went to the Frade house on Libertador, mi coronel. The housekeeper told me."