Mabel’s reply to his letter arrived a couple of days later.
Dearest George
(It does feel strange writing that.)
Chin up. Of course you feel badly about deceiving the people you live with. What decent man wouldn’t? But remember, it’s in a just cause. And as you say, if he’s innocent, Mr. Connaught need never know anything about it. You’ll move on to other lodgings, and he’ll remember you as that pleasant young chap he used to share digs with.
George stifled a bitter laugh. It was sound advice—to a man who would be happy to leave Matthew Connaught far behind him. Unfortunately for him, George wasn’t that man.
He was beginning to realise just how much he hoped Matthew was innocent. And how much it had shaken him to discover Matthew’s knowledge of German. But damn it, if simply speaking t
