Good friends? This pronouncement was both presumptuous and over-familiar, but I merely smiled.

"Three hours, then – 6:30? And we will meet at Delmonte's?"

"Three hours," I intoned solemnly. "Promptly."

"I look forward to it," Hentzau said. Then he once again clicked his heels together and bowed.

I watched as he flew away, fluttering my handkerchief in the air as though we really were friends.

I did not make at once for the nearest station of the sub-surface railway, located in a corner of the square, even though rail was the quickest way to the offices of The Department. Instead, knowing that Theo von Hentzau might unexpectedly return, I walked from the square in the direction of the closest police station. Once I was around the corner and out of view, I broke into a run, dodging down first one alley and then another. I came out on Fox Street, and caught a steam tram east to the main line.