The air was much cooler and fresher up here than down in the valley, which was a relief. His heavy suit itched terribly and he could do little to stop himself sweating all the time. Also there were no mosquitoes at this altitude. He hated the damned things and they made his life a misery.

He walked along the perimeter of the dam, hearing nothing but his shoes clicking on the concrete, the sound bouncing back off the surrounding cliffs.

He saw someone ahead, standing in the shadows between two spotlights. He squinted but couldn’t make out who it was.

‘Hello?’ he called out tentatively, and the figure stepped forward into the light.

It was Peter Haight.

‘Peter?’ said Cooper-ffrench. ‘Have you found him? Is he here?’

Haight shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not, but what on earth are you doing here, old man?’

Cooper-ffrench cleared his throat. ‘One of Ugo’s chaps came down from the palazzo, he said Bond had been seen up here and that I should hurry.’

‘That’s pretty well the message I was given as well,’ said Haight. ‘But sad to report there’s no sign of him.’

‘This is very worrying,’ said Cooper-ffrench.

‘What do you think we should do?’ said Haight, lighting a cigarette. ‘Should we wait?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Cooper-ffrench guardedly. He didn’t trust Haight. He never had. ‘Have you had a good look around?’

‘Yes,’ said Haight. ‘Although it’s too dark to see properly. But, listen, old chap, there’s something I need to talk to you about.’

‘Oh, yes?’ said Cooper-ffrench.

‘Yes.’ Haight blew out a lungful of smoke, and then took out a small flask from his breast pocket. ‘Would you like some brandy? Might keep us awake.’

‘Not for me, thank you,’ said Cooper-ffrench. ‘It’s a little late and I’m a martyr to indigestion. So, what did you want to say?’

Haight took a sip of brandy. ‘I’ve been finding out a bit about our host, the great Count Ugo Carnifex,’ he said. ‘And I think he might be up to no good.’

‘How do you mean?’ said Cooper-ffrench.

‘Do you know anything about an organization called the Millenaria?’ said Haight.

Cooper-ffrench hesitated. ‘I’ve heard of them,’ he said at last.

‘Well, from what I can gather, this is their headquarters and Carnifex is in charge,’ said Haight. ‘The place is crawling with crooks.’

For a while Cooper-ffrench said nothing. Maybe he’d been wrong about Haight, but he still didn’t trust him.

‘How do you know this?’ he asked.

‘Been talking to some of the locals,’ said Haight.

‘You knew none of this before?’

‘How could I have known?’ said Haight with a frown.

‘Well, it’s only that…’ Cooper-ffrench decided to show his hand. ‘I have seen one of these chaps before.’

‘What do you mean?’ said Haight, wide-eyed and attentive.

‘As you know I am a keen amateur archaeologist,’ said Cooper-ffrench.

‘Yes.’