Code Name Hélène

At the château de Couffour, a man in Nazi uniform gets out of the car that has just arrived, interrupting their work unpacking the airdrop of supplies. Nancy recognizes the man as Gaspard, the Maquis leader. She holds him at gunpoint, asking him why he is wearing a Nazi uniform and what he is doing there. Gaspard says he thought they were Germans; he was going to kill them and take their weapons. He says he got the uniform from a German transport that they had raided four days earlier. Nancy refuses to give him any weapons. Gaspard reveals that he knows that Nancy is “la Souris Blanche,” the White Mouse, the codename that the Germans have given her. Nancy is outraged by the whole situation. She forces Gaspard and his men to strip off their German uniforms and leave in their underwear. Gaspard tells her that whips like the one he stole are given to senior Nazi officers called Obersturmführer. After Gaspard leaves, Nancy tells Hubert she has a plan to “bring him to heel” (105).

When they return to the château, Hubert tells Nancy that they have to leave because Gaspard knows where they are and could come for them.