Charles spoke slowly and with pauses, as if struggling to recall correctly. It must not sound rehearsed. ‘Knowing the EU fallback position means that a major rift in the cabinet in London has now been healed. Since there’s no question of paying that much – they’re all united on that – the chancellor has opened his wallet and agreed to spend billions that would have gone into the divorce settlement on preparing for a hard Brexit, divorce without a deal. Previously, he wouldn’t agree to spend anything serious on it apart from the few million already announced because neither he nor half the cabinet believed it was going to happen. Didn’t want it to, anyway. Still don’t. But your report convinced them that a deal is now impossible on the terms the EU insists on. They’d never get it through Parliament or the country and it would split the party. It hasn’t been announced and won’t be but the truth is they’ve given up on getting a deal.’

‘You mean they’re calling off the talks, walking away?’

‘No, no, they’ll keep talking to the last second of the last minute of the last hour. They’re determined to show willing. But they now believe that a deal is impossible.’

Timber Wolf’s moon face creased in concern. It was as if Charles had confessed to a fatal illness. He had picked up his knife and fork again but hesitated to eat. ‘They didn’t – they don’t have a figure in mind, something they would accept?’

Charles shrugged. ‘Can’t say. For one thing, I’m not party to cabinet discussions and for another, even if I were, my lips would be sealed.’

‘But do you think they might have a figure in mind? They must have some idea of what would be acceptable in order to know that the EU figure isn’t. You haven’t heard anyone saying anything, any speculation?’

‘None that I know to be reliable. People talk, obviously, but . . .’ He shrugged again and drank more wine, aware that Timber Wolf still held his knife and fork in suspension and was watching him closely. The role reversal was going as he had hoped, with Timber Wolf, in his eagerness to have something significant to report back, becoming the debriefing case officer and Charles the agent. His longing for the big bone to take back to his masters had blunted Timber Wolf’s awareness.

‘What do people say?’ he asked.

‘Oh, all sorts of things. Gossip inflated by self-importance and coloured by wishful thinking. You must be familiar with that sort of stuff. But it’s why you’re so good, Eddie. You see through it all, you only report what you actually know.’ He stood. ‘Must just go to the loo. Excuse me a moment.’