"Who?" I didn't wait for Litvinov to finish speaking, and immediately asked alertly. "Who wants to see me?"

Seeing my wary expression, Litvinov smiled and unhurriedly said a name that made my heart flutter: "Eleanor. Roosevelt, wife of President Roosevelt, first lady of the United States. ”

Although I always wanted to meet the first lady in my heart, I couldn't help but panic when Litvinov said that the other party wanted to see me. I quickly weighed the pros and cons in my mind, and finally cautiously asked: "Comrade Ambassador, I don't know about this matter, have you reported it to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs?" ”

Hearing me mention Molotov, the expression on Litvinov's face froze, and after a while, he said to me with a wry smile: "Comrade Oshanina, this time the First Lady has asked you to meet you for a private purpose. I will arrange your meeting as soon as you wish. As for Molotov, you just need to say hello to him. I don't think he will stand in the way of this kind of good thing that can enhance the friendship between the Soviet Union and the United States. ”

After listening to Litvinov's words, I still asked worriedly: "Is it really appropriate to meet the first lady in private like this?" ”

Levinov laughed, "Comrade Oshanina, when you went to the Norfolk Naval Base today, did you meet the commander of the Atlantic Naval Command, or the commander of the base?" If not, your trip to Norfolk is also personal. ”

I savored Litvinov's words, and felt that they were quite reasonable, although Marshall offered to let me go to Norfolk to have a look, but Colonel Henry, who accompanied me, did not take me to any of the bases or the senior commanders of the fleet, not even to visit the Eldridge. There are also many obstructions. Maybe it was just Marshall thanking me for my help in the development of their "Overlord Plan". Only then did Colonel Henry take on a private capacity. Accompany me to Norfolk Naval Base for a trip to return the favor.

Mrs. Roosevelt sent a message through Litvinov that she wanted to have a private meeting with me, and if Molotov had been informed of this, he would surely be hated by him in the future, since he was one of the most trustworthy people around the Supreme Commander, and he was perfectly capable of dealing with me easily. For comparison, Litvinov, who sat in front of me. He is a marginalized figure, and although Stalin still has a good opinion of him, by all indications, he may not have much chance of being reused, and being too close to him will have disastrous consequences for me.

Thinking of this, I took a deep breath, and then said to Litvinov resolutely: "Ambassador Litvinov, I am grateful that you can give me an opportunity to meet Mrs. Roosevelt. But no matter what this is an official meeting. Whether it is a private meeting, it is necessary to ask Comrade Molotov for instructions in advance. I will only be able to give you a definite answer after getting his consent. ”

My words complicated the expression on Litvinov's face, and after thinking about it for a while, he finally nodded reluctantly and said with difficulty: "Comrade Oshanina, since you must insist on this, then do as you say." ”

Seeing that Litvinov had already agreed, I hurriedly and politely urged him: "Since this is the case, Comrade Ambassador, let us immediately go to Comrade People's Commissar, I believe that he is still talking to Minister Khrulev at this time, and he will not rest for the time being." ”

Unable to refute my proposal, Litvinov had to follow me to Molotov's room.

When I got to the door, two security guards stared at me in surprise, as if they were surprised that I had gone and returned. I didn't have time to guess what they were thinking, so I said to the man who had just opened the door for me: "I have an urgent matter and need to see Comrade People's Commissar immediately, please help me inform me." ”

The man glanced at me and Litvinov, turned around and knocked lightly on the door twice as he had just done, then pushed the door open a crack and poked his head in. Almost at the same time, I heard Molotov's stern voice: "Is there something wrong?" ”

"It's General Oshanina," the security officer replied, "she said there was something important to report to you immediately." ”

After listening to the security personnel's report, Molotov was silent for a moment, and then said, "Please let her in." ”

The security guard retracted his head, pushed the door open, and politely said to us, "Please come in!" ”

Molotov was the only one left in the house, and he didn't see Khrulev's shadow, probably going back to his room. When Molotov saw Litvinov beside me, he couldn't help but have a surprised look on his face. He got up from the sofa he was sitting on and asked in a stern tone, "Oshanina, are you here at this time, is there anything important?" ”

"Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs," I politely addressed him, then turned to Litvinov and said, "Comrade Ambassador has just told me that Mrs. Roosevelt wants to meet me in a private capacity. As this matter is the most important, I feel it is necessary to report back to you and wait for your permission before deciding whether or not to meet with the President's wife. ”

"Is that so? Comrade Litvinov. "When Molotov heard what I had to say, he turned his gaze to Litvinov.

"Yes, Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs." Litvinov replied without humility or arrogance: "Today I received a call from the White House office saying that the president's wife would like to meet with General Oshanina in a private capacity. ”

Molotov, after receiving confirmation from Litvinov, looked at me again and asked noncommittally: "Comrade Oshanina, what do you think about this matter?" ”

"Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, I am completely at your disposal!" I respectfully said to Molotov, "If you think I should meet, then go and meet; If I didn't have to, I'd be gone. ”

My respectful attitude softened the expression on Molotov's face, and he took off his glasses, sighed on them, took out a white handkerchief from his pocket, and slowly wiped them. From his reaction, I could tell that he was still very satisfied with the attitude he showed towards me. If there were no surprises, he would have agreed to let me meet Mrs. Roosevelt, for this was a way of enhancing our friendship.

When Molotov put his glasses back on. The previous expression of underbeating is gone. There was also a rare smile on his face. He smiled and said to me, "Oshanina, since the first lady of the United States has asked you to meet, you should try to find time to meet her." ”

When I heard Molotov say this, I couldn't help but secretly slander myself, I should say that it is better for me to wait for the first lady to arrange a meeting time. But on the surface, he still pretended to be happy, and promised: "Obey orders, Comrade People's Commissar." ”

Molotov coughed. He cleared his throat and then said to Litvinov: "Comrade Litvinov, I will leave this matter to you with full responsibility, and you must set a meeting time as soon as possible when you reply to Mrs. Roosevelt. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade People's Commissar." Litvinov reluctantly agreed, and then threw me a reproachful glance.

I understand that it is indeed a little inappropriate for me to forcibly bring Litvinov to Molotov, but the paper cannot contain the fire, and if this matter is not reported to Molotov in time, even if it is delayed until the next day. As long as the intelligence agents in the embassy privately complained to him, Litvinov and I would be in trouble.

We left Molotov's room. After walking along the corridor for a while, I saw that the security guards at the door were far away, and when we said something that they should not be able to hear, I whispered to Litvinov: "Comrade Ambassador, come and sit down with me?" "Although Litvinov has been marginalized, his position is still far higher than mine, and I do not want to erect such an enemy, so it is necessary for me to make things clear to him before inviting him to my room.

Litvinov hesitated for a long time about my invitation, then nodded slowly, put on a casual look and said, "Okay, then go and sit down." It just so happens that I have some diplomatic etiquette that I need to explain to you. ”

After entering the room, I beckoned him to sit down, poured him a cup of hot tea from the teapot, held it in front of him with both hands, and asked with a smile: "Comrade Ambassador, are you still blaming me in your heart, thinking that you should not have reported the matter to Comrade Molotov so quickly?" ”

"Humph!" After snorting heavily from his nose, Litvinov said angrily: "I didn't expect you to grovel in front of Molotov, I really misjudged you." ”

Litvinov's voice was loud, which startled me, and I was afraid that someone outside would hear it, so I hurried to the door, quietly opened the door and looked outside, and saw that the corridor was empty, and I breathed a sigh of relief. When I closed the door and walked back to Litvinov's side, I kindly reminded him: "Comrade Ambassador, don't be too loud, or you will be heard." ”

"Tell me, why are you in such a hurry to report this to Molotov?" Litvinov took a sip of tea and said with great dissatisfaction: "Can't you make a meeting with Mrs. Roosevelt before you make a report?" Isn't it just a matter of one day earlier and one day later? ”

When I heard Litvinov's words, I couldn't help but sigh with a long sigh, no wonder he would have been squeezed out of the position of People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, and demoted to the post of ambassador to the United States, he really lacked political wisdom, no wonder he couldn't play Molotov, if it weren't for his value in Stalin, it is estimated that he would have been lying in the cold soil a long time ago.

"Ambassador Livinov," I waited for him to finish, and instead of answering his question directly, I diverted the topic and asked unhurriedly: "Do you think that in this embassy there are agents of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or Cheka staff?" ”

"Cheka!" Litvinov was so frightened by my words that he hesitated for a long time to say: "Theoretically, there must be indispensable places like these in foreign offices. This is because they are responsible for gathering intelligence and monitoring the words, deeds, and actions of personnel stationed abroad. ”

"It seems that you are also well aware of the existence of such a terrifying figure in the embassy." Seeing that he now seemed to have understood, I continued: "Perhaps these staff members have long since learned from their sources that Mrs. Roosevelt intended to meet me privately. If we had not reported this to Molotov in advance, but had waited for these people to report after they had made a small report, the nature of the whole matter would have changed completely. When the time comes, whether it's you or me, we'll be in big trouble. ”

After listening to me, Litvinov raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then stood up, leaned forward slightly, and stretched out his hands to me. When our hands clasped tightly, he said gratefully: "Comrade Oshanina, I am wrong to blame you. Or are you thoughtful, if this matter is not reported to Molotov in time, we may really be in big trouble. There is a possibility that I will be immediately transferred back to the country and idle; And your career will stop because of it. ”

Seeing that Litvinov understood my distress, I let go of his hand and said casually: "Okay, Comrade Ambassador, should you explain to me the necessary diplomatic etiquette, lest I make a fool of myself when I meet Mrs. Roosevelt?" ”

When Litvinov heard me say this, he raised his hand and patted his forehead heavily, and said in a loud voice: "Yes, yes, yes, I should explain to you some precautions when meeting Mrs. Roosevelt." ”

Seeing that Litvinov was standing still and was about to explain diplomatic etiquette to me, I quickly pointed to the chair next to me and said to him politely: "I guess you won't be able to finish what you want to talk about in a while, so you might as well sit down and talk about it." ”

He sat down and took a sip of the tea on the table, and the first thing he told me was not the necessary precautions, but about the sniper Lyudmila and Mrs. Roosevelt. "Comrade Oshanina, as you may know, last year there was a great female sniper, Lyudmila, who accompanied our youth friendship delegation to the United States. She became the first Soviet citizen to be received by President Roosevelt and met Mrs. Roosevelt. Because the first lady liked the young soldier very much, she cared for her as if she were her own daughter. For Lyudmila to get the friendship of the first lady, this is what everyone wants to see. However, it is a pity that her rank is too low, and apart from getting Mrs. Roosevelt's other eyes, it will not help the Allies to open a second battlefield. ”

"Comrade Ambassador," I could not help but interject when I heard this, "will my meeting with Mrs. Roosevelt be able to make up for Comrade Lyudmila's shortcomings and successfully urge the Allies to quickly open up a second battlefield?" ”

"Yes, you can do that." Litvinov said with a smile: "Because you came to the United States with the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs as a representative of the base camp. Your weight is far heavier than Lyudmila's, and as long as you can gain the friendship of Mrs. Roosevelt, it will be very helpful for the diplomatic relations between the two countries. (To be continued.) )