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excessive constraint by the delightful wine and he was determined to use the evening, the presence of a German officer, for contemporary probing rather than philosophic word-play. Germans, he said to himself a little hazily, go in for heavy generalizations, so I’ve heard. Real issues have to be measured by particular examples.
    â€˜C-Cromwell,’ said Anthony, as they listened attentively, ‘had Marvell writing an ode in his praise. He may have tamed the Irish in a year, as the poet put it, but it didn’t last and they hate his name to this day. He treated the Irish, when he caught or beat them, as being outside the pale of ordinary humanity. Men, women and children.’
    There was a silence. Kaspar von Arzfeld said,
    â€˜Religious questions bring great savagery. That happened in the seventeenth century. You had your Cromwell. In Germany, we had war for thirty years. Men come to believe that their enemies are less than human, accursed by God. Then every cruel action becomes – permitted.’
    Anthony felt a bond of sympathy with this old countryman with one arm, so unpretentious, so grave and so sincere. He experienced a sense of barriers coming down. It must be a time for frankness. Friendly frankness.
    â€˜Indeed, that was so in the seventeenth century, as you say, Herr von Arzfeld. And what about now?’
    â€˜Now? I do not think Catholics and Protestants wish to kill each other now! Here in this valley,’ said Kaspar with a smile, ‘it is true that Catholics tend to live on one bank of the river and we Protestants on the other! We do not, perhaps, make our friends very much among people of the other Church. But we do not think them accursed! We live happy together now, we are all Germans, these things are long past.’
    â€˜I was with Marcia in Herzenburg this morning,’ said Anthony, ‘in Franconia.’
    His host nodded.
    â€˜Herzenburg. A pretty place,’ said Werner.
    â€˜A beautiful place. Marcia and I were very – very surprised, to see the number of placards violently hostile to Jews: “Jews not welcome.” Is that the policy of your Government? Are Jews regarded as Germans with the rights of Germans – officially?’
    There was a long silence.
    â€˜It is a complicated matter,’ said Kaspar steadily. None of his children looked at their father. ‘Yes, it is complicated,’ he continued. ‘There has been much feeling against the Jews in some places. Generally for economic reasons, I think. Of course, there are also historic prejudices – in most parts of Europe, I believe. Perhaps less in Germany than elsewhere,like Poland, Russia. Herzenburg is an ancient, mediaeval town, your guidebook will have told you. Perhaps it has, also, some ancient mediaeval habits of mind.’
    â€˜Surely what we saw wasn’t just the expression of individuals’ dislike? And there was some sort of official celebration. Nazis in uniform everywhere.’
    Von Arzfeld nodded, expressionless. Werner looked at Anthony with the same silent smile in his eyes. ‘You’ve not got far, have you!’ he thought. The men puffed at their cigars. Anthony frowned.
    â€˜How long leave have you, Werner?’ asked his father.
    â€˜One whole week of peace. Arzfeld in the spring. And I hardly saw it last year.’
    â€˜I hope,’ said Kaspar seriously to Anthony, ‘that your sister and you will stay here as long as you wish. Frido does not return to Marburg at all. He will start his military service in June. You have heard that my son, Werner here, has a holiday. It will be good for Lise that you are with us.’
    â€˜You’re very kind, sir.’
    â€˜This is a beautiful part of Germany, especially in the spring. Our beech woods are famous. And you have a fine car. So does Frido. You can visit, if you wish, some of our Lower Saxon villages and towns. There is much to see.’
    â€˜We must not stay too long.