To Catch a King Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the First World War to hold out the hand of comradeship to German veterans, is taken by some of the more fatuous among our leaders to be an indication of his approval of National Socialism. Wishful thinking. I also believe the Führer mistaken in seeing in the Duke's tour of our country in nineteen thirty-seven any evidence of similar approval. May I remind you that a distinguished list of world leaders has visited the Reich. Does that make them all incipient Nazis?”
    “So—your opinion of the Duke is that he wouldn't have the slightest interest in our overtures?”
    “He has a considerable amount of German blood in him, he speaks our language fluently, and I believe he likes us. But it is my opinion, for what it's worth, that this liking does not extend to the Nazi Party. There, have I shocked you?”
    “Not at all, Herr Admiral. I asked for your opinion and you have been good enough to give it to me. I shall respect the confidence.”
    They started back toward the car. Canaris said, “My final word. Examine the Duke's record in the First World War. Gallant in the extreme. In spite of his father's orders that he was to be kept out of action when on the Western Front, he loved nothing better than being with the Tommies, which was why they knew him and came to love him. A basic reason for his extraordinary popularity. He always made straight for the trenches. Did you know that his aides once made an official complaint? They said it was all right for him, but the trouble was they had to follow him into the shellfire too.”
    “Now that I like,” Schellenberg said. “That tells me more about the man than anything.”
    “Walter, in this matter, the Führer is hopelessly wasting his time. Here is a man who renounced a throne rather than betray the woman he loved. Do you really imagine that such a man could betray his country?”
    At Estoril, in the pink stucco villa above the sea, the Duchess of Windsor sat beside the swimming pool. She was reading Wuthering Heights, one of her favorite novels, and was so absorbed in the action that she was not immediately aware that the Duke had emerged from the house onto the terrace and was standing beside her.
    She glanced up and removed her sunglasses. “Why, David, you startled me.”
    “What are you reading?”
    “Wuthering Heights.”
    “Good God, that Bronte woman again. How many times is that?”
    “It's like an old friend. Extremely comforting in times of travail.”
    He sat down in the deck chair opposite, and she reached for the glass jug on the tray.
    “Lemonade?”
    “I could do with something a little stiffer, but why not?”
    “Nonsense, David, you know you never drink before seven o'clock. What's happened?”
    She reached across the table and took his hand. He forced a smile. “You always know, don't you, Wallis? I've had a telegram from Winston. He's finally found me a job. Governor of the Bahamas. Nicely tucked away three thousand miles from the action.”
    “Will you take it?”
    “I'll have to. I won't have them push us into a bottom drawer. It must be the two of us together. Man and wife with the same position. They don't seem to be willing to offer us that in England. So, the Bahamas it is.”
    “My dear David,” she said. “There's a war on, and I'm sure the question of my position doesn't loom very large on the agenda.”
    “But it does with me, Wallis, don't you see? I can never alter on that score.” He shrugged. “It hurts a little, that's all, that they can't find anything of more importance for me to do.”
    He got up and walked to the terrace and stood there gazing out to sea. As she watched him, the sense of waste was so overwhelming that she had to fight to hold back the tears.

4
    S chellenberg was back in his office within half an hour. As he was taking off his coat Frau Huber entered. She was considerably agitated.
    “We've been looking for you everywhere. You didn't give any indication of where you'd gone. General Heydrich is