The capital of France - Paris and the capital of the European branch of the UN and many other international organizations - Geneva have always attracted close attention from intelligence services of various countries. The presence of a large number of foreigners and important secrets in the safes of diplomatic and other missions in these cities, the traditional friendly attitude towards visitors and a fairly liberal regime of residence and communication sometimes made it easier for the “soldiers of the invisible front” to complete the tasks assigned to them. This is discussed in the notes offered to the reader by one of the veterans of foreign intelligence, a high-class professional, a retired colonel. However, the work of an intelligence officer is not limited only to collecting information of interest to the Center. He works in a specific country, in a specific city. And this means constant contacts through one’s cover agency with neutral connections, with prominent people or with their entourage, interesting meetings and acquaintances. The author's observant view will allow the reader, in particular, to get acquainted with some aspects of the life of the Russian diaspora, as well as to plunge into the daily activities of the intelligence officer himself abroad.