The Paris Architect: A Novel

“Then America. They have to know what’s going on.”


“America. But now it’s impossible to get you out of the country. My contact in the Gestapo tells me they’re killing people right and left to find you. Remember Deligny?”

“Deligny? I thought he got out. They picked him up?”

“I haven’t found out if he’s talked. Sooner or later they’ll pick up some of my people. I want to believe they won’t crack, but with what those Gestapo barbarians do, the strongest are made to talk. Men can’t betray each other in times like these, but they do.”

“Poor Deligny. All on account of me. This isn’t right, Auguste.”

Manet changed the subject. “You must be quiet as a mouse here—and stay away from the windows even though they’re shuttered. We think a hiding place is safe, but they always find out about it. There’re informants everywhere.”

“Quiet as a mouse.”

“Your food will come up on the dumbwaiter in the pantry every three days.”

“Well,” Janusky said as he looked around the apartment, “this is the lap of luxury compared to being in a barrel in that wine cellar.”

“Yes, I noticed the Pinot Noir cologne you’re wearing,” said Manet, patting his friend on the shoulder.





9





“My darling, what a wonderful surprise. But this must have cost you a fortune.”

Lucien smiled as Adele held the string of pearls before the small candle on the café table and examined them. He knew many men had bestowed pearls upon her that really weren’t pearls but cheap imitations. He was pleased her expert eye could tell these were the genuine thing.

“Real quality doesn’t come cheap, but a stylish woman like you deserves only the best,” replied Lucien. Actually, he got the pearls for almost nothing. A friend of his told Lucien about a homosexual who was desperate to sell his family heirlooms because he had been ordered to go to Drancy.

“These are magnificent, Lucien.” Adele fastened the string around her long slender neck.

Lucien beamed at her. His nightlife in Paris had returned to normal. While the French outside were getting by on scraps and acorn coffee, Le Chat Roux offered a choice of six kinds of fish or oysters, a bouillabaisse, rabbit, chicken, fruit salad, and even pineapple with kirsch. Having money was a wonderful thing, thought Lucien. The necklace looked wonderful against her black dress and her beautiful blond hair.

Lucien was enjoying the fact that other men at Le Chat Roux were stealing admiring glances at Adele. He knew that in a short while, they would be back in her apartment making love and downing the bottle of expensive champagne he’d bought for her.

Adele also saw the looks of envy and admiration and gently fingered the string of pearls. “You’re terrible to spoil me so. The pearls, this wonderful meal. You deserve a reward,” she said, shifting her cornflower blue eyes seductively toward the door, then all of a sudden she started waving her hand like an excited schoolgirl.

“Oh, look, it’s Suzy,” she said to Lucien. “Hello, my love,” Adele called across the room. “You be sure to come to my salon this week. I won’t forgive you if you cancel again.”