The Spy Wore Silk

In 1971, the author was a privileged member of Spanish society, married to a count. As revealed in her third book, however, she felt bound to take on the kind of deep-secret assignment that she had handled as an American agent during WW II ( The Spy Wore Red ; The Spy Went Dancing ). So ``Tiger,'' her OSS code name, traveled with her husband Luis to Morocco on a vacation that brought them into the company of King Hassan and his glittering court. While ostensibly enjoying the country's exotic pleasures, the countess searched for evidence to confirm rumors that the king was the target of assassins. It was a mission that almost cost Tiger her life as well as the life of a former comrade in undercover operations, Bill Casey, later head of the renamed OSS, the CIA. Both Casey and the author left Morocco believing that the crisis was over, only to learn of Hassan's murder shortly therafter. Readers discover additional facets of the countess's personality, including certain disillusioning aspects. She boasts, for instance, about shooting great numbers of wild boars on a hunt, suggesting ruthlessness rather than courage. Literary Guild alternate. (Mar.)