While Relmyer repeatedly hammered on the door, Margont turned to Lefine and Pagin. ‘Fernand, go and take a casual look round. You, Pagin, make sure none of the neighbours leave, otherwise one of them might attract the attention of the gendarmes. But no brutality!’ Finally the door was opened by an Austrian woman with black hair streaked with grey pulled back in a chignon. She stood in the doorway, barring entry. Luise spoke to her softly: ‘Do you remember me, Frau Sowsky? Luise Mitterburg. I came the day before yesterday to ask you about your husband.’ ‘He’s not here, I told you.’ ‘I can vouch for these two officers.’ ‘He’s here and we’re coming in,’ cut in Relmyer in an uncompromising tone. ‘We would like to talk to him.’ Madame Sowsky gave in, seeing that it was useless to annoy the hussar any further by defending the lost cause of her lie ... Her husband was easy to find. He was sitting in the gloom in his bedroom, the coolest place in the house.
