We went out to the terrace. Jules was tied up outside. When he saw us he picked up his water bowl, an enamel chamber pot, and hurled it at us. It missed by a few inches, splattering water all over Freddie’s trousers.

‘Surrounded by ingrates,’ Freddie said.

Jules started beating his chest and screeching. Freddie knelt down in front of him and caught his hands. ‘Jules,’ he said. ‘I can see you.’

Jules went quiet and put his arms around Freddie’s neck. Freddie kissed the chimp’s head and sighed, straightening up when Henry came out with two glasses of wine. He seemed exhausted.

‘So what now?’ I asked, trying to distract both of us. I’d never seen Martha so unwell. It must have been frustration that had made Freddie say what he did in the boat, I thought; he’d probably never felt helpless before. ‘Will you stay in the BUF?’

‘We’ll see. I’d like to stand for Legislative Council. But that’s at least a year away, frustratingly.’ He joined me on the sofa and we clinked glasses. ‘I want to keep the momentum up. Cheers, anyway.’

‘Cheers. It’s good to have a proper conversation – I can’t take much more railway talk.’

‘No one talks about Sylvie, you mean.’

‘I haven’t thought of her for months,’ I lied.

Freddie grinned. ‘Of course not. And you still haven’t resigned?’

‘What else is there?’

‘You’re twenty-four. You’ve got plenty of options, young man.’

‘You have options when you have money.’

‘And brains,’ Freddie said. ‘You talk as if I’m some rich bozo.’

‘You know I don’t mean that.’

‘No, I’m just being sensitive.’ He took a sip of his wine. ‘Tell me why you broke it off with the delectable Miss Cartwright.’

I looked carefully at him. ‘You’ve met her?’

‘No. But her fame is widespread.’

‘I didn’t break it off,’ I said. ‘I was banned from seeing her. And I seem to recall it was you who got me banned.’

Freddie raised his eyebrows.

‘Her father,’ I said. ‘He didn’t approve of our friendship.’

‘And you didn’t think to say you wouldn’t see me any more?’