“The risks of that are enormous,” von Stauffenberg said, obviously thinking out loud. “That’s treason on its face.”
“And what are we doing, Claus?” the Graf asked.
“How much have you told Peter about that, Uncle Friedrich?” von Stauffenberg asked.
“As little as possible,” the Graf said. “But it should be self-evident that our Little Hansel isn’t so little anymore. I’m sure he’s concluded that you’re with us. I don’t think he should know any more than that, and that may be too much. He is one of those suspected of being implicated in the deaths of Oberst Grüner and the SS man.”
“Were you, Peter?” von Stauffenberg said. But before Peter could reply, he had a second thought: “I don’t want to know the answer to that question.”
“But you already know, Claus, don’t you?” the Graf said. “What is that English cliché about, ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave’?”
“‘When first we practice to deceive,’” von Stauffenberg finished.
“I think that’s everything,” the Graf announced, and looked at his watch. “Take us to the Vier Jahrseitzen, please, Hansel. We can have a nice leisurely luncheon, and then you can take me to the airport, and Claus back to the hospital.”
“What do I do with the car?” Peter asked.
“I’d say leave it with Claus, but I don’t think they’d let him use it. But what about leaving it with your friend Hauptmann Grüner at Augsburg? Perhaps Nina—”
“Hauptmann Grüner?” von Stauffenberg asked.
“The son of Oberst Grüner,” the Graf explained. “He and Hansel are comrades in arms.”
Von Stauffenberg shook his head but said nothing.
“I was about to suggest, Claus, that if Hansel left the car with his friend, Nina could pick it up.”
“If she drove, there would be questions,” von Stauffenberg said.
“Would there be a place for it at your home?” the Graf asked. “I don’t see how we could get it back to Wachtstein, and I am determined to keep it out of the hands of some Nazi swine.”
“She could say that she was taking it to our place for you.”
“I will prepare a note to that effect,” the Graf interrupted.
“And once it was there, that would be the end of the problem,” von Stauffenberg said. “Done, Uncle Friedrich.”
The venison sauerbraten at the Vier Jahrseitzen was as delicious as von Stauffenberg had predicted.
As they were having their coffee, the Graf called for a sheet of paper, wrote a few words, and handed it to von Stauffenberg.
* * *
Der Hotel Vier Jahrseitzen
München
16th May 1943
To whom it may concern:
Fran Oberstlentnant Nina Grafin von Stauffenberg is, as a personal service to me, taking my Horch automobile to her home, where I will pick it up in the near future.
Any questions concerning this matter should be referred to the undersigned.
Karl Friedrich, Graf von Wachstein
Generalleutnant,