Topaz Page #6

Nobody up high is to know

that we are here with Andr.

Otherwise, I shall have to leave.

That is understood, Jean.

You have nothing to be afraid of.

I am not afraid.

It is a matter of protocol.

He has not seen

the Director-General.

It is true. And for myself,

I don't see how we can help.

Jacques, when you spoke to Jarr -

Ah, here he is.

- Good afternoon.

- How are you?

I am sorry I am late.

- Andr. How are you?

- I am glad you came, Henri.

Good. We are all here.

Let's sit down.

Now... this is a serious matter

for Andr.

Very grave.

And he has asked us to give him

whatever advice we can...

before he faces

the Director-General.

It is not so much

the Director-General.

It is the whole board of inquiry

he has to look out for.

There is nothing I can tell them.

Nonsense. You went to Cuba

on a mission for the Americans.

You obtained certain information

for them. That's true?

Yes.

You refuse to pass it on

to your own government.

I cannot, my friends... Believe me.

Why not?

There are leaks in our government

and I don't know where they are.

- I think I must go.

- No, Jean, stay.

No-one will be

compromised, I promise you.

Andr,

To be a man of principle is one thing

but a man doesn't cut his throat

on principle.

I have no desire to cut my throat.

Then tell us, your friends.

That's why we are here.

Be reasonable, Andr.

We are trying to help you.

Yes, my friends. Slowly.

Slowly.

Let Andr tell us in his own way.

Have any of you

in your official work

had any hint of a spy ring

called Topaz?

- No?

- What kind of a ring?

It's a number of Frenchmen,

compatriots of ours,

high in official circles,

working for the Soviet Union.

- I go.

- Sit down. I need you.

I have nothing to do with spies.

I am concerned with exposing them.

This is very dear.

How do you know about this...

ring of spies?

The Americans have a Russian

defector, high in the KGB.

- We know that.

- Yes, that is known.

I saw him.

I was allowed to talk to him.

He told me.

A spy ring?

- Called Topaz?

- Yes.

What is the name of the defector?

Boris Kusenov.

But, Andr, that is not possible.

Why?

The KGB official

of whom you speak, Boris Kusenov,

has been dead for over a year.

This man who has been planted

on the Americans

is obviously a double agent.

And he has taken in the Americans.

And he has taken in you.

How do you know that?

- What makes you think that?

- It's a matter of record.

I have it in my files.

You know you are not

supposed to come here,

unless I ask you.

I have been calling your office

all afternoon.

I even called this number.

I hate to seem impatient,

but I am expecting a visitor.

I apologise for this invasion

of your privacy.

Why did you permit Devereaux

to include me at that lunch?

If I had not,

he would have wondered.

If you had not come,

he would have wondered more.

But he knew. You could see

that he knew about me.

No.

He wasn't sure.

He was trying to find out.

And you, who behaved so well

at the beginning,

then did

something extremely foolish.

To say that the Russian defector

was dead -

It shook him. It stopped him.

For the moment.

By now, he is checking

with the Americans.

By tomorrow...

he will know that we are lying.

What will we do?

Nothing.

Let me give you something

to settle your nerves.

A cognac?

You don't think Devereaux

should be treated... seriously?

An ominous and subtle suggestion,

eh, Henri?

But these things

are not done in panic.

You will forgive me

if I don't join you

but I am expecting a guest.

If I am Devereaux's target now,

how long

before he will become a threat...

to others?

Jacques...

This is not the first time

you have been faced

with a problem that demanded...

the final solution.

Now, if you will finish that cognac.

They are publishing things in the

newspapers that make me nervous.

What things?

Those little hints of possible leaks

in the government, in NATO?

- Pay no attention. It's nothing.

- Nothing for you.

Nobody would think of you

in your position. But me...?

Now some journalist has called

to ask me for an interview.

About what?

NATO.

That's perfectly innocent.

Give it to him. Did you refuse?

No. I said I would.

Very intelligent.

Jacques...

if Devereaux has the information

from the Russian defector

that I think he has,

he must be stopped now.

Believe me.

How bloodthirsty you are.

What, Devereaux dead?

A grieving widow?

An official investigation?

I hate to seem impatient,

but I am expecting a visitor.

You can find your way out.

- Shall I call you after the interview?

- What time will it be?

- Nine o'clock.

- Call me afterwards.

Thank you for coming.

Why shouldn't I come?

I am a free woman.

- Good evening. Franois Picard.

- You are early.

- We said eight-thirty.

- No, we said nine o'clock.

I am very sorry.

If it inconveniences you -

- No, come in, now you are here.

- Thank you.

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

- Could I give you something?

- No, thanks.

First I want to thank you

for permitting me to come.

Don't mention it.

Yours is a very good newspaper.

Not like some of these...

But I don't know exactly

what you want of me.

Nothing extraordinary.

I am just enquiring

into the workings of NATO.

Since you are one of its officials...

Do you mind if I sketch you

while we talk?

It is one of my specialties - sketching

the people I am interviewing.

- The newspaper likes it.

- Go ahead.

Just relax, Monsieur Jarr.

I am relaxed.

Good.

I only wonder what questions

you want to ask.

They are very simple. For example...

You are a civilian official of NATO.

How does your authority

compare with the military?

The importance of people in NATO

has nothing to do with whether

they wear a uniform or not.

Very good.

Then you are among those

who make the decisions?

- Yes, of course.

- Even if they are military?

Military considerations

are always subject to politics

and the relations between countries.

I see.

So you have access

to all the decisions that are made,

military as well as political?

I did not say that.

I am afraid you assume too much.

I am very sorry.

But we can assume, can't we,

that in your position

you have access to confidential files?

I beg your pardon. I don't see how

that can be of interest to you.

Oh, Monsieur Jarr.

The readers of our newspaper

find such things fascinating.

For them, to know that a civilian

can have access to military secrets -

You cannot print that I have access

to military secrets.

Even if it were true,

it would be classified information.

What a shame.

But you said before -

I said that I help make decisions.

That is different.

OK. That's too bad.

But you see, sir, it is a rule

for a newspaperman not to be dull.

Surely I can print that files marked

top secret pass your desk every day?

Why do you stay on this subject?

What are you trying to find out?

Well, everyone knows

that there are leaks in NATO.

What has that to do with me?

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