I started rereading Biggles Takes a Hand this week and I suppose everyone will be shocked, SHOCKED if I decide to ramble on about the lunch scene under the cut.


So this is the one set a few books after Buries a Hatchet, in which Biggles helps the Roths escape East Germany and EvS shows up in a fake beard to give him information .... after dropping a Completely Mysterious and unsigned note into Biggles's mailbox in the dead of night. As you do.

Biggles about the note:

"Obviously the writer knows me and knows what I do for a living. He knew I lived here. How? I’ve taken good care to keep my private address under the hat. Our number isn’t in the phone book. I kept it out. No doubt the man who wrote this letter would have preferred to phone had he known the number.

Yeah but he does though. Canonically, as per Biggles & Co.

He COULD have called, it's just that he prefers sneaking by in the middle of the night (which is literally more dangerous for him than calling Biggles from a public phone booth) and dropping him what basically amounts to a treasure hunt note in which he DISGUISED HIS HANDWRITING ...

“It isn’t often I get a letter here,” remarked Biggles, as he slit the flap. “I can’t recall ever seeing this handwriting before, either.”

Erich, in his flat, carefully writing a note a note for Biggles in fake handwriting and already contemplating his false beard: :D!!

It's like zoo enrichment for retired spies.

Anyway, though, the actual scene in which they meet for lunch at the restaurant is too adorable. ERICH AND HIS FAKE BEARD.

At a quarter to one the first man who had entered by himself walked in. He, too, behaved as though he knew his way about, giving a nod to the waitress in passing her. He was thin, and tall above the average, but as the lower part of his face was hidden by a grey beard, and the upper part by dark glasses, little of his features could be seen. Walking with a slight limp he came straight on to the table where Biggles was seated and sat in the opposite chair.

Erich von Stalhein, you complete weirdo. ILU.

And then there's this:

A ghost of a smile for a second softened Von Stalhein’s customary austere expression. “Let us not go into my past history. Let it suffice that I have known of these men for some long time. I have never associated with them, but I was once asked to assist them. This, being a soldier and not a murderer, I refused, with the result that I knew would be inevitable. As you know, in certain countries the refusal to obey an order involves a trial on a charge of treason. This, as a matter of detail, was the reason why I was condemned to life imprisonment on the island of Sakhalin, from which vile durance you so kindly rescued me.”

“Who was to be murdered on that occasion?” inquired Biggles.

“You.”

Biggles smiled whimsically.

THEM!!

Unsurprisingly EvS by now knows him well enough to anticipate Biggles's reaction to knowing there are dangerous criminals in the area:

Then Biggles went on. “Assuming these men are living in London do you happen to know where they are staying?”

“Yes, I can tell you that. Anticipating your question I have made a point of watching them go home. I think they must have rooms in one of the many private hotels in the Cromwell Road. It is called the Cosmolite, one that appears to cater particularly for foreigners— as the name would suggest. Of course, I know what you are going to say about all this.”

“What am I going to say?”

“You will say there is nothing you can do about it.”

Biggles shrugged. “As this is a free country no man can be arrested until he has broken the law.”

“Not even if, as in this case, you know what he intends to do?”

“How can you prove what a man intends to do until he has done it?”

And there's sthis:

“I must go, too,” said Von Stalhein, beckoning to the waitress for the bill. “I have work to do.”

“I’m very much obliged to you for what you’ve told me,” thanked Biggles seriously. “Also for an excellent lunch.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m glad to be of service and it has been a pleasure to see you again.”

Biggles smiled broadly. “There was a time when you wouldn’t have said that.”

SMILED BROADLY. When does he ever do that??

Also....

Von Stalhein remained serious. “Times change, and as we grow older, if we are wise we change with them. But before we part there is one thing I must ask you. Tell no one except your worthy assistants, who I know are to be trusted, of this meeting, or of the purpose of it.”

HE TRUSTS THEM 😭

I mean, also he knows that asking Biggles to keep things from them is unfair, but the way Erich is about them after the Sakhalin rescue (also asking how they're doing in Biggles in Mexico) is just .... help, my heart.

And the next bit:

Biggles hesitated. “If I am to follow this up I’m bound to tell my chief. He, too, is to be trusted.”

“I must leave that to your discretion, but I see no reason why you should mention my name unless it becomes absolutely imperative.”

“What’s your objection?”

“If you tell Air Commodore Raymond he may tell the Chief Commissioner; he would tell your security people; they might have to tell your Home Secretary, or Foreign Secretary; and so it could go on until the story reached the newspapers. Then all the world would know. I am trying to lead a quiet life, but once my name was mentioned that would end abruptly.”

Specifically, he trusts them in a way he really doesn't trust anyone else - he trusts that they won't blow up the life he's rebuilding here.

“Are you still at the same address in case I should want to get in touch with you?”

“Yes. I still get quite a lot of work, chiefly translations, from one of your government departments, and that is why, being grateful, I am glad to be of assistance whenever possible.”

“Good. Then let’s leave it at that.” Biggles held out a hand. “Good-bye for now. You go out first. I’ll follow you in a minute.”

They shook hands and parted, Von Stalhein limping slowly to the door.

Biggles, with a curious expression on his face, watched him go. He gave him two or three minutes and followed him out into the street.

*hnnggghhhh*

Also, just ... the reactions when Biggles actually tells the team the details ...

“What the devil’s going on?” greeted Algy wonderingly, as Biggles re-entered his own office.

“Keep quiet and I’ll tell you,” replied Biggles, crossing to his desk and dropping into the chair.

“Did you discover who wrote that bally letter? That’s what I want to know,” asked Bertie, impatiently.

“I did.”

“Someone we know?”

“Yes. But don’t start guessing because you wouldn’t get it in a month of Sundays.”

“Tell us. I can’t wait,” pleaded Ginger.

“Von Stalhein.”

Silence fell, everyone staring.

Actual picture of Biggles's team: :O

“Has he gone round the bend?” queried Algy.

“No. He seemed perfectly normal except in his appearance, the result of sticking a set of false whiskers on his face. That wasn’t for fun. He had a good reason for not wanting to be recognized by another party in the restaurant. And now, if you’ll listen instead of firing questions at me I’ll tell you what it was all about. But mark this. Not a word of what I’m going to say must go outside this room.”

Biggles: what are you talking about Algy, he just dropped me an anonymous note in fake handwriting and then showed up in disguise, perfectly normal behavior. Anyway, the plan -
Algy: *internal screaming*

(Algy's actual worst case scenario for EvS being in London is probably Erich trying to kill them all, but his second-worst case scenario is steadily unfolding here, which is basically that the amount of EvS in their lives will start to steadily increase in the most batshit ways possible.)