Page 41 of The Last Library of Paris

‘As many as we can,’ I said. ‘Hundreds?’

‘Oh Cassie, I’m not sure.’ Dad’s hesitation was audible in his voice, despite the crackles on the telephone line. ‘Are we the right people for this?’

‘I honestly can’t think of anyone better.’

I swapped the telephone receiver to my other hand. I was gripping it so hard, my fingers were beginning to ache.

‘And it’s not all on you.’ I was speaking fast now because I didn’t want him to change his mind. ‘Edith, the woman who’s helping with the documents, has a sister in Oxford who is getting her friends to help, and she thinks the Quakers will be on board. Plus, another chum, Lara, has contacts in the theatre who she is sure will be able to find jobs for refugees. And her boss, Bea, knows everyone and she’s been working with refugees since the last war. We’re getting quite a lot of people to help. It’s a team effort.’

‘The Quakers are on board?’

I smiled. Dad didn’t like to be outdone by other churches.

‘It’s definitely their sort of thing,’ I said lightly.

‘Right,’ he said. ‘Good.’

‘What do you say?’

Again, Dad took a while to answer and I held my breath.

‘It’s not entirely legal?’ he said, echoing my words back to me.

‘No.’

‘Your brother always said the law was an ass.’

‘I think it was Charles Dickens who said that.’ I was smiling because I could sense him talking himself into this.

‘Leave it with me,’ Dad said. ‘I’ll put the word out. See what I can do.’

‘Discreetly,’ I warned.

‘Of course.’

I leaned back against the chair in relief.

‘Thanks, Dad,’ I said. ‘I’ll call again at the end of the week, and we can discuss how it’s going to work.’

‘Cassie?’ he said.

‘Yes?’

‘Keep doing the right thing, won’t you?’

I was smiling as I hung up the receiver.

Boosted by our conversation, I decided to see if Edith was still in her office, or if she’d gone home already.

Carefully closing Digby’s office door, I headed for the stairs. But when I reached the top floor, Edith’s office was empty.

Disappointed, I turned to go, just as Parrish came out of a room a little way along the corridor.

‘Oh,’ I said, startled. ‘Hello. I thought there was no one up here.’

He gave me a little smile. ‘I was just finishing a few things before I went home. Was there something you needed?’ He paused. ‘Or someone?’

‘I was just going to say hello to Edith,’ I said. ‘We’re old friends.’