Six months at the most.
Then he will be free.'
He turned to the window. 'Look,' he said.
'They are bringing him out.'
The old man turned and looked.
Down the garden path a little cordon of six German soldiers, armed with rifles, were escorting Charenton.
They were under the command of a Feldwebel; an officer rather behind Charenton, who walked slowly, his hands, in his trousers-pockets.
He did not seem to be pinioned in any way, nor did he seem to be particularly distressed.
Howard turned to the German.
'What do you want?' he asked.
'Why have you brought me to see this?'
'I have had you brought here,' said the German, 'to see if you would not help your friend, at a time when he needs help.'
He leaned towards the old man.
'Listen,' he said softly. 'It is a very little thing, that will not injure either of you.
Nor will it make any difference to the war, because in any case your country now is doomed.
If you will tell me how he got the information out of France and back to England, to your Major Cochrane, I will stop this execution.'
He stepped back.
'What do you think?' he said.
'You must be realist.
It is not sensible to let a brave young man die, when he could be saved to work for your country when the war is over.
And further, nobody can ever know.
Charenton will stay in prison till the war is over, in a month or two; then he will be released.
You and your family of children will have to stay in France, but if you help us now you need not stay in prison at all.
You can live quietly in Chartres with the young woman.
Then, when the war is over, in the autumn, you shall all go home.
There will be no enquiries about this from England, because by that time the whole organisation of British spies will have become dispersed.
There is no danger for you in this at all, and you can save that young man's life.'
He leaned towards Howard again. 'Just a few little words,' he said softly.
'How did he do it?
He shall never know you told.'
The old man stared at him.
'I cannot tell you,' he replied.
'Quite truthfully, I do not know.
I have not been concerned in his affairs at all.'
He said it with a sense of relief.
If he had had the information things would have been more difficult.
The Gestapo officer stepped back.
That is mere nonsense,' he said harshly.
'I do not believe that.
You know sufficient to assist an agent of your country if he needs your help.
All travellers in any foreign country know that much.
Do you take me for a fool?'
Howard said: 'That may be so with German travellers.
In England ordinary travellers know nothing about espionage.
I tell you, I know literally nothing that could help this man.'
The German bit his lip.
He said: 'I am inclined to think you are a spy yourself.
You have been wandering round the country in disguise, nobody knows where.
You had better be careful.
You may share his fate.'