"I'd heard something about that."
"I thought of your son, of course, when I received my orders."
"I'm sure he would be delighted to show you around Buenos Aires," von Wachtstein said. "By now I'm sure he is familiar with everything of interest. Most of that, unless he has suddenly reformed, will be wearing skirts."
"He does have that reputation, doesn't he? Have you heard from him lately?"
"Not often. The odd letter. He was apparently asleep in church when they went through that 'Honor Thy Father' business."
Goltz chuckled.
"And then the mail is erratic, isn't it? I thought perhaps I could carry a let-ter for you."
"That would be very kind, but irregular," von Wachtstein said.
"Even if it came to anyone's attention-and I can't see how it would-I don't think there would be any serious questions about someone in my position doing a small service to an old friend."
"I would be very grateful, Goltz, but I don't want to impose on our friend-ship."
"It would be no imposition at all."
"When are you leaving Wolfsschanze?"
"Whenever the Heinkel leaves. The Herr Reichsleiter got me a seat on it."
"There is something," von Wachtstein said. "In one letter he complained that he has only one set of major's badges..."
"That's right, he was promoted, wasn't he?"
"... and spends a good deal of time carefully moving them from one uni-form to another. I could probably get a set or two here...."
"I'd be delighted to carry them to him."
"Thank you."
Feldwebel Hennig appeared with two cups of coffee on a wooden tray.
"The African coffee, Herr Generalleutnant," he said. "Unfortunately, about the last of it."
"You're a bright youngster, Hennig," von Wachtstein said. "I have every confidence that you will be able to steal some more somewhere."
"I happen to have a source of coffee, good coffee," Goltz said. "I'll tell my office to send you a couple of kilos with the next messenger."
"And I was not really glad to see you, Josef, when you walked in here. I shamelessly accept."
"Friends should take care of one another, shouldn't they?"
"A noble sentiment."
As Hennig was setting the tray down, one of the three telephones on von Wachtstein's desk rang. Hennig moved to answer it but stopped.
"It's the red line, Herr Generalleutnant," he said.
A red-line telephone-so called because the instrument was red-was an-other symbol of status in Wolfsschanze. There were only fifty red-line instru-ments. The special switchboard for these had been installed so that Hitler and very senior officials could talk directly to one another without wasting time speaking to secretaries. Those who had red-line telephones were expected to answer them themselves.
"Heil Hitler, von Wachtstein," he said, picking it up.
"Canaris," the Chief of the Abwehr identified himself. "I understand Standartenf?hrer Goltz is with you?"