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corner. Who is that man? Doesn’t he look familiar?”
    â€œI can’t see. It’s too dark.”
    At that moment, the man rose from his chair and walked towards their table. Johanna gasped. It was Herr Vogel, the duke’s secretary! How did he find us? What should I do? She turned away and quickly covered Rebecca with her cloak.
    â€œExcuse me,” Vogel said, tipping his hat. “It is wonderful to see you again so soon, Fraulein Richter.” He glanced at Cecile. “And you are Fraulein Hansen, if I am not mistaken?”
    Johanna’s heart was beating so loudly she was sure even Daniel could hear it from wherever he had gone. How did he find us? Has he been ordered to bring us back? Or take us to the police?
    â€œWe have just come from Altona,” said Johanna. She kicked Cecile’s foot under the table.
    Cecile grimaced. “Yes,” she said. “To visit my family.”
    â€œAh, now I remember. You are from Altona. But I heard there is plague there.” He paused. “May I sit down?”
    Johanna nodded and gestured to the bench.
    Cecile swallowed hard and her eyes filled with tears.
    â€œWhy, what is the matter?” Vogel asked.
    â€œNothing,” Cecile said.
    Rebecca began to squirm and poked her head from under the cloak. She gazed from one person to another, as if listening to the conversation.
    â€œCecile is … disappointed … because we decided not to go to Altona after all,” Johanna said. Her armpits were wet and the sweat was running down her back. “That’s why we stopped here. At this inn. Before going back to the orphanage.” I’m becoming an expert liar . What would Mama say?
    Vogel cleared his throat. “What a coincidence we met,” he said. “I am on the road. Business for the duke.” Vogel glanced down at the baby, opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself. He had a thoughtful look on his face. “I wish you a pleasant journey,” he said, standing up. “I shall leave you alone now. You must be weary.”
    â€œThank you,” Johanna managed to say.
    Vogel tipped his hat and returned to his seat.
    The girls didn’t speak. They looked at each other, the worry plain on their faces.
    â€œThat’s better,” said Daniel as he sat down across from the girls a moment later.
    Schmidt carried a large tray to their table. “Here you are now. Here’s your supper. The best stew in the country, made fresh today. Fresh today. Eat up, eat up.”
    â€œHerr Schmidt, may I wash my hands somewhere?” Johanna asked. She always tried to wash her hands before eating. It was a habit from home she didn’t want to break.
    â€œWash your hands?” he said. “What a strange request.” Johanna could feel her face growing red. She looked down to avoid his eyes.
    â€œGo out back to the kitchen. My wife will show you where.”
    â€œCecile?” Johanna said. Cecile seemed lost in her own world. “Cecile,” Johanna repeated, shaking her friend’s shoulder.
    â€œWhat?” Cecile looked at Johanna with red-rimmed eyes.
    â€œPlease hold Rebecca while I’m gone.” Johanna placed the squirming baby into Cecile’s stiff arms. “I’ll be right back.”
    Rebecca began to cry. Her crying tugged at a deep place in Johanna’s heart.
    â€œI’ll take her,” Daniel said. “She seems to like me.”
    Johanna hurried to the kitchen, where Frau Schmidt gave her a basin of water to wash her hands. Her legs were shaking. Should we leave the inn while we have the chance? Perhaps Vogel will call the police. Perhaps we’ll be thrown into jail . They had been gone only one day, but already the journey seemed endless.
    â€œPlease God,” she whispered, as she splashed water on her face. “Please keep us safe.”
    When she returned to the main room, she glanced over to the corner where Herr Vogel had been