“Because he wants to be president of the Republic. The Minister of Labor can do nice things for the laboring class, who vote. What can the Army and the Navy do for the voters?”
“You think Perón will make it? Become the president?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And if he does, will we get into the war?”
“I don’t think so. I can’t believe he could be that stupid.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning the English and the Americans are going to win the war, and I think that Perón knows that—no matter how much he would wish otherwise.”
Nervo nodded. “We have finally found something we agree upon, Bernardo,” he said.
“We agree upon many things, Santiago, and you know it.”
“Perón will be at Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo today?”
Martín nodded.
“Is that why you’re going out there?”
“I was invited out there,” Martín said.
“What’s that all about?”
“I don’t really know,” Martín said. “But it will give me a chance to see who’s there, won’t it? And maybe even see who’s talking to whom, and with a little bit of luck, hear what is said.”
“And will Perón like that?”
“Perón has Don Cletus Frade calling him ‘Tío Juan.’”
“You’re kidding!”
“I am not. I have the feeling that Juan Domingo will be delighted to see me. The more Argentine friends Frade makes, the better his Tío Juan likes it.”
“Isn’t that letting the fox into the chicken coop?”
“By now, everyone knows that Frade is in the OSS. I don’t think he will be told anything he should not be told.”
“Even by his Tío Juan?”
“That’s really in my half of the football field, Santiago, but I’ll answer you anyway: No. Whatever else he might be, Juan Domingo Perón is both intelligent and a patriot.”
Nervo paused, considered the reply, then nodded. “Speaking of whatever else an unnamed gentleman might be, are you aware of the new lady friend?”
“He sent the other one home to Mommy?”
“No. Señorita Maria-Teresa Alsina will probably celebrate her fifteenth birthday in the Arenales apartment.”
The two exchanged glances of wonderment and contempt.
“How old is the new one?” Martín asked.
“A little older, twenty-two or thereabouts. I have it reliably that he is looking for another apartment for her. When I have the address, I’ll give it to you.”
“The new one has a name?”