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The question surprised both Dulles and von und zu Waching.

“I would say that I am privy to just about all,” von und zu Waching said, more than a little arrogantly.

“If I wasn’t clear about this, Colonel Graham,” Allen Dulles said, “I have it on good authority—from the admiral himself—that the fregattenkapitän is indeed Vice Admiral Canaris’s deputy.”

I don’t really know, Graham thought, if that remark was intended for von und zu Waching or me.

Is he trying to convince von und zu Waching that he has a friend?

No!

What he’s doing is more or less politely suggesting that he doesn’t approve of the way I’m dealing with von und zu Waching.

Allen, you’re wrong!

Von und zu Waching is a sailor, a navy officer, and I know how to deal with navy officers.

You think like a diplomat, Allen, and a diplomat is the last thing I need right now!

“I’m going to show you one of those communications, Captain,” Graham said, “and ask you to explain what it means. If I like your answers, that means you have told me the truth. That will be another step in our blossoming relationship. Fair enough?”

Von und zu Waching nodded.

Graham went into his briefcase, pulled out a manila envelope, and took from it two photographs of a message—obviously pages one and two of the message—which he handed to von und zu Waching.

“May I ask what that is?” Dulles asked.

“You may, but I’m frankly shocked that you would ask. Have you forgotten what Secretary of State Stimson said?”

Dulles shook his head in disbelief.

“‘Gentlemen do not read each other’s mail,’” von und zu Waching said, smiling after he quoted Henry Stimson’s 1931 justification for shutting down the government’s small—and only—cryptographic office.

“Listen to the Captain, Allen,” Graham said.

“Would that we were all still living in such an age of innocence,” von und zu Waching said.

“Amen, brother!” Graham said.

“Actually, I wrote this,” von und zu Waching said, holding up the message. “And frankly, I’m amazed . . .”

He stopped in midsentence.

“That it was compromised so quickly?” Graham finished for him.

Von und zu Waching nodded.

“Show it to Mr. Dulles, Captain. Curiosity is about to consume him.” He gave him just enough time to do so before asking, “So who’s the senior officer?”

Von und zu Waching looked into Graham’s eyes for a long moment.

“SS-Brigadeführer Ritter Manfred von Deitzberg,” von und zu Waching said. “He is de facto, if not de jure, Himmler’s deputy.”

“But he was just in Argentina—wearing the uniform of a Wehrmacht general.”

Von und zu Waching knew it was more of a question than a statement. He began: “There are three reasons why he’s going to Argentina—”

“On U-405?”