“I still think of myself as young,” said Sparks.

“You’re making me feel older by the second. Well, I’m already here. Speak your piece, but make it quick.”

“Gerald Talbot,” said Sparks. “Old Greek hand.”

“Died a year ago,” said the Brigadier. “Therefore, not good marriage material. Anything else?”

“You weren’t at the funeral.”

“We sent flowers. Anonymously.”

“Even though he’d been out of the Service since the early twenties?”

“Once in the Service, always in the Service. We’ll send flowers to your funeral someday.”

“Cheerful thought,” said Sparks. “What intrigued me about Talbot’s last guest list was the large number of Greeks on it. Unusual for a director of the London and North Eastern Railway Company, unless there is a national enthusiasm for trains in Greece of which I was previously unaware.”

“He had worked in Greece.”

“For us. For the Crown’s interests, presumably. And not for decades. What had he done for Greece lately that so many of them showed up?”

“What does this have to do with some poor blighter’s marriage prospects?”

“When was the last time Talbot went to Greece on behalf of the Service? His cover was blown after he rescued Prince Andrea and family. After that, his life was mostly tied to choo-choo trains. You brought him in for training the new boys and girls, but that was as a guest lecturer, not as an operative.”

“It was all hands on deck then, Sparks. You know that. You still haven’t given me any reason why I should divulge anything to you. You’re an outsider now.”

“Once in the Service, always in the Service. You said so yourself. Just now. I was listening.”

“No,” said the Brigadier. “Information does not travel on two-way streets. Not unless you tell me what this is all about.”

“I’ve been sworn to secrecy,” said Sparks.

“You were sworn to loyalty as well,” said the Brigadier. “I assume that still means something to you.”

“It does. But this involves the prospective happiness of someone.”

“Yes, yes, some petulant young bride needs to know if her fiancé has a dark past as an agent, and the happiness of their marriage depends on her knowing the truth. What of it? I have the Crown to worry about.”

“Well, this petulant young bride will be wearing that crown someday,” said Sparks.

This prompted the twitching of both eyebrows. He may as well have shouted obscenities in front of the children’s playground.

“Prince Philip,” he said. “That’s the man you’re vetting.”

“We may have to vet the whole damn family,” said Sparks. “There may have been a secret, something Talbot found out about, but kept to himself.”

“Then he took it to the grave with him, Sparks. Let it rest.”

“That’s the problem, sir. He may not have taken it with him.”

“Who has it now?”

“By all rights, it should be you. And if it isn’t, I’m wondering why not.”

“Be careful of what you’re accusing us, Sparks.”

“I’m not accusing, I’m wondering. Did Talbot tell you of any secrets involving Prince Andrea, Princess Alice, or any of that family?”