After breakfast they would have their conversation—so far they had only wished each other a good morning, but that was something.

Suddenly the two of them give a start. In the kitchen overhead, there’s shouting and yelling, and they listen, each looking at the other with concern. Then their kitchen window is darkened for a second, something heavy plunges past—and they hear it land with a crash in the yard. Downstairs someone yells—a man. Then deathly silence.

Otto Quangel pulls the kitchen window open, but retreats when he hears the tramp of people coming down the stairs.

“Will you put your head out here, Anna!” he says. “See if you can see anything. A woman attracts less notice.” He takes her by the shoulder, and presses her very hard. “Don’t scream!” he commands. “You mustn’t scream. There, now shut the window again!”

“God, Otto!” wheezes Frau Quangel, and stares at her husband with a white face. “Frau Rosenthal’s fallen out of the window. She’s lying down in the yard. Borkhausen is standing by her, and…”

“Enough!” he says. “Quiet, now. We don’t know anything. We haven’t seen or heard anything. Take the coffee into the parlor!”

And, once there, with emphasis, “We don’t know anything, Anna. Hardly ever saw Frau Rosenthal. And now eat! Eat, I tell you. And drink coffee! If anyone comes by, they’re not to notice anything out of ordinary!”

Judge Fromm had remained at his observation post. He had seen two civilians going up the stairs, and now three men—the Persicke boy was now with them—were charging down them. Something had happened, and now his cleaning woman was coming from the kitchen with the news that Frau Rosenthal had just fallen into the courtyard. He looked at her in consternation.

For a moment he stood there perfectly still. Then he slowly nodded his head.

“Yes, Liese,” he said. “That’s it. You can’t just want to rescue someone: they have to agree to be rescued.” And then quickly: “Is the kitchen window shut?” Liese nodded. “Hurry, Liese, and tidy my daughter’s room; no one must see that it’s been used. Plates out! Clothes out!”

Again, Liese nodded.

Then she asked, “What about the money and the jewels on the table, Judge?”

For a moment he stood there almost helplessly, looking wretched, with a perplexed smile on his face. “Well, Liese,” he said. “That’ll be difficult.