Ysbel thanked him, and said that it would be useful if she could ask him a few questions about the accident.

‘Of course. Although I have already told the bailiff what little I know,’ Solomon Firststar said, looking at Goodwill for the first time.

Ysbel pulled a bot from her satchel. ‘You won’t mind if I record our conversation?’

‘Not at all. After all, I am making my own record,’ Solomon Firststar said, pointing to the ceiling, where a dome of black glass was clamped upside-down, a surveillance device of native design, using the elementary techne they had been given.

Ysbel, Goodwill and their host sat in a nest of cushions, a servant brought a tray of what the natives called small eats, and Solomon Firststar took charge of pouring tea into porcelain thimbles, explaining that, as he had told the good bailiff, he knew very little of the incident itself.

‘Do you often hold speedboat races at your parties?’ Ysbel said.

‘Oh, every party is different. That’s the fun of it.’

‘Did you know what Joyous Hightower and Trina Mersdaughter were planning to do?’

‘A host has many duties. I was busy elsewhere. The first I heard about the race and the accident was when the two of them returned.’

Solomon Firststar was staring directly at Ysbel, a bold gaze not at all like the usual native deference, as if daring her to contradict him.

‘You knew that they had been racing that afternoon?’ she said.

‘I did not know that they had decided to race again, but I can tell you what they were competing for.’

‘I believe you may have forgotten to mention this in our previous conversation,’ Goodwill said.

Solomon Firststar ignored him, telling Ysbel, ‘As you can see, I am something of a collector. And like many collectors I trade duplicates and items I no longer need. Trina and Joyous were both eager to acquire my latest offering, Trina lost out, and that was why she challenged Joyous to a race. I’m sure she can tell you more.’

‘Perhaps you could tell me what this offering was,’ Ysbel said. She had been wondering why an agent of Survey and Surveillance had attended this party; now she was wondering why Trina had been so keen to acquire a piece of bear history, and if it had been official business or something personal.

Solomon Firststar showed his front teeth again. He was having fun. ‘I confess that I was surprised by her interest, and by Joyous’s, too. It is not especially valuable and, strictly speaking, it is not a genuine artefact. Which is why I decided to sell it.’

‘Now I am intrigued,’ Ysbel said, leaning forward and smiling at Solomon Firststar as she had been taught by the instructor who had schooled her in native manners and customs, denting her lower lip with her teeth. ‘In what way was it not genuine? Did you put a fake up for sale?’