appeared to be unaware that any such contradiction existed. Then he seems
to be unaware that there could be three sets of fanatics around – the
extremist Protestants, the extremist Catholics and the Mediators. That’s
them. The Mediators could be the most irresponsibly danger-
F. -G 193
ous of all. To achieve the final solution, the Mediators are prepared to
drown a million. One could imagine what the final solution would be like
in Ulster. No. Let me rephrase that. I can’t imagine that.’
‘The same thought was in my mind.’ Wieringa spoke very slowly. ‘The very
same. Although not so clearly formulated. In my mind, I mean.’ He smiled.
‘Well, that should be enough for a day – but you did mention that there
was something you didn’t believe.’
‘Yes, sir. I don’t believe his threats. His immediate threats, that is.
His long-range threats are a different matter. But the ones he mentioned
here tonight – and the ones outlined to Colonel de Graaf earlier this
evening – I do not believe, with the exception of the threat to Helystad
in Oostlijk-Fllevoland. The rest I believe to be bluff. Especially the
threat to destroy the Palace.’
‘If you say that, Lieutenant,’Wieringa said, ‘I’m damned if I don’t
believe you. Why do you say that?’
‘Because I don’t believe they have any mines laid inside the Palace. They
were concerned that the explosion inside the Palace tonight would be
heard over a considerable area to convince you that they had, indeed, the
ability to carry out their promise.’
Wieringa regarded him with a puzzled expression. ‘You sound fairly sure
about this, Lieutenant.’
‘No, sir. I’m certain. 2
‘How can you be so sureF
‘I have inside information.’
Wieringa looked at him in a speculative fashion but said nothing. Not so
Dessens. He had been totally out of his depth all evening but now he
thought he was on secure and known footing and that it was time to assert
himself.
“What were the sources of your information, Lieutenant?’
‘That’s confidential.’
‘Confidential!’ Whether the source of Dessens’ immediate anger was due
to the reply or the fact that van Effen had omitted the mandatory
‘minister’ or ‘sir’ was difficult to say: he probably didn’t know
himself. ‘Confidential!’
194
‘I’m trying to be discreet, sir, that’s all. I don’t want to divulge my
sources because it may cause acute and unnecessary embarrassment. Surely
you can understand that – it’s so commonplace in the police world that
it’s hardly worth the mentioning. Why don’t you just take my word for
it?’
‘Understand it! Commonplace! Take your word!’ Dessens’ mottling
complexion was rapidly assuming the hue of a turkey wattle. ‘You arrogant
– you arrogant – you -‘He made a visible effort to ward off the onset of
apoplexy. ‘I would remind you, Lieutenant’- he put a heavy accent on the
word ‘Lieutenant”that I am the Minister of Justice’- he put a very heavy
accent on that, too -‘whereas you are only a junior officer in the force
which I personally -‘
‘That’s unfair, sir.’ De Graaf’s voice was impersonal. ‘Next to me, van
Effen is the senior police officer in the city of -‘
‘Keep out of this, de Graaf.’ Dessens tried to let ice creep into his
voice but his temperature control had slipped. ‘Van Effen! You heard me.’
‘I heard you,’ van Effen said, then added ‘sir’ almost as an
afterthought. ‘I know what I’m talking about because I’m the person who
placed that charge in the cellars of the Royal Palace.’
‘What! Whad’ Dessens’ complexion would now have made any turkey-cock look
to his laurels. ‘Good God! I can’t believe it.’ He was halfway out of his
chair. ‘My cars deceive me!’
‘They don’t. Sir. I was also the person who pressed the button that
detonated the explosives.’
Dessens said nothing, not immediately. The shocked horror of this threat
to the safety of the royal family, this dreadful 16e-maJesti, held him
in tllrail. Van Effen returned to his brandy and made no attempt to keep
his opinion of the Minister of Justice out of his face.
‘Arrest this man, de Graaf,’ Dessens shouted. ‘This momend’
‘On what charges, sir?’
‘On what charges! Have you gone mad as well as – as well as -Treason,
man, treason!’
‘Yes, si.r. This raises problems.’
195
‘Problems? Your duty, man, your duty!’
‘Problems, sir. I’m the city’s Chief of Police. All other policemen in
Amsterdam are junior to me.’ Every century of de Graaf’s aristocratic
lineage was showing. ‘Nobody in Amsterdam has the authority to arrest
me.’
Dessens stared at him, his anger gradually changing to bewilderment. He
shook his head and said nothing.
‘What I mean is, sir, that if Lieutenant van Effen is to be locked up on
a treason charge, then you’d have to lock me up, too, because I’m as much
a traitor as he is.’ De Graaf considered. ‘More, I would say. I am, after
all, his superior; moreover, I personally authorized and approved every
action the Lieutenant has undertakeu.’Inconsequentially, itseemed, but
probably to give Dessens time to readjust, de Graaf turned to van Effen
and said: ‘You forgot to tell me that you personally had detonated those
explosives.’
Van Effen shrugged apologetic shoulders. ‘You know how it is, sir.’
‘I know,’ de Graaf said heavily. ‘You have so much on your mind. You seem
to have told me that before.’
‘Why have you stepped outside the law, Colonel?’ There was no reproof in
Wieringa’s voice, only a question. Wieringa had remained remarkably
unperturbed.
‘We did not step outside the law, sir. We are doing and have done
everything in our power to uphold the law. We – Lieutenant van Effen –
have gained the entr6e – and a highly dangerous entr&e it is – into the
ranks of the FFF. I think it is more than dangerous, it’s close to
suicidal. But Lieutenant van Effen has persuaded me – and I most
reluctantly agree with him – that it’s our last best hope. Our only
hope.’
Dessens looked at the two policemen dazedly but his mind was beginning
to function again, at least after a fashion. ‘How is this possible? Van
Effen’s face must be known to every criminal in Amsterdam.’ He had
forgotten how junior van Effen had been only moments ago.
‘It is. But not the van Effen you see before you. I-Alis appearance,
voice and personality have changed to such a remarkable extent that I’d
wager my pension that neither of you would
196
recognize Stephan Danilov, which is the pseudonym he has temporarily and
conveniently adopted.’ He might have wagered something else, van Effen
reflected; de Graaf was so wealthy that his pension was a matter of total
indifference to him. ‘Whether the FFF have uncritically accepted Stephan
Danilov at his face value, we have no means of knowing. It seems
incredible to me that, so far, they appear to have done. If they have not
done or will not do so the city of Amsterdam will be requiring a new
senior detective-lieutenant. They will also be requiring a new police
chief, which the Lieutenant will probably regard as a trifling matter,
because I shall have to resign. The Netherlands, of course, will be
looking for a new Minister of Justice, because you, Mr Dessens, are also
a party to this. Only Mr Wieringa can look forward to a safe tenure.’
Dessens looked stricken. ‘I haven’t said that I’m a party to anything.’
Wieringa took him gently by the arm. ‘Bernhard, if you would, a word in
your ear.’ They walked away to a distant comer of the lounge, which was
fortunately as large as it was luxurious, and began to converse in low
terms. Wieringa appeared to be doing most of the conversing.
Van Effen said: ‘What weighty matters do you think our tevered cabinet
ministers are discussing?’
De Graaf forgot to reproach van Effen for his unseemly and
unconstitutional levity. ‘No prizes for guessing that. Mr Wieringa is
explaining to Mr Dessens the principle of Hobson’s choice. If Dessens
doesn’t go along, the Netherlands is still going to be looking for a new
Minister of Justice. If Dessens hadn’t forced you to divulge your
confidential information he wouldn’t have found himself in the impossible
situation he does now. Hoisted, to coin a phrase, on his own petard.’ De
Graaf seemed to find it a moderately entertaining thought. He settled
himself comfortably in his chair, sighed and reached out for the brandy
bottle. ‘WeU, thank heaven everything’s over for the day.’
,Van Effen considerately let de Graaf pour himself some brandy and sip
it before producing Agnelli’s shopping list. ‘Not quite complete, I’m
afraid, sir. There’s this little item.’
197
De Graafread through the list, his face stunned, then read through it
again. His lips were moving, but at first no sound came. He had just got
around to muttering: ‘This bule item, this little item,’ when Wieringa
and Dessens returned. Wieringa looked his normal imperturbable self,