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“—faithful servant and leader of the Reich and a trusted and beloved friend of the Führer

himself—”

An inarticulate gurgle came from Reck.

“—who will himself pronounce the oration at the State funeral, which will take place in

Berlin on Tuesday in next week. The whole German people will join with their Leader in

mourning and resenting this bestial and revolting outrage, perpetrated upon one whose

outstanding devotion to duty, meticulous honour and unfailing fidelity made him an example to

every—”

“They are doing him proud, aren’t they?” said Tommy, fidgeting slightly.

“Wonder if Herr Goebbels wrote this?” said Reck impishly.

“—Immediate steps are being taken to ensure the arrest, conviction, and condign

punishment of the bloodstained assassins, who, undoubtedly under Jewish influence, were guilty

of this abominable act of treachery. At the end of this announcement, that is, at once, a two

minutes’ silence will be observed as a tribute to the dead Chief.”

Reck lifted his glass. “To the late Chief of Police,” he said in German, and drank.

Hambledon, with a rather wry smile, followed suit.

“May he rest in peace,” said the Captain solemnly, and drained his glass.

“No rest in peace for him, I fear,” said Hambledon cryptically. “There wasn’t before,” he

added, to himself, “and to-morrow is here.”

The radio reawoke to life. “We are now giving you a recorded version of the late Herr

Lehmann’s radio play,
The Wireless Operator
, first broadcast from this station in March 1933.

There is only one character, the wireless operator himself—”