Count Ugo came in with Smiler.

Smiler wiped some dust from the top of a packing crate and sat down.

Ugo took one look at the unclean conditions, turned up his nose and decided to stand.

‘James Bond,’ he said, ‘in my time I have had to deal with soldiers, bandits, pirates and murderers of all kinds. A mere schoolboy is not going to cause me any difficulties. Now, I wish for you only to answer me some questions and then we can close this matter.’

‘And let me go?’ said James. ‘After all, I am a mere schoolboy.’

‘Why not?’ said Ugo. ‘As I say, you do not worry me. You may have some childish fantasy of alerting the police and sending in the army to rescue this girl. But it must remain a fantasy. I have great power on this island. All men are greedy. It doesn’t take a great deal to bribe a policeman; I give them money, they leave me alone. The army are just the same. We are all Sardinians first and Italians second. They have more loyalty to me than to Mussolini. I offer these people hope. This is a poor country, but I will make it rich.’

‘By stealing paintings?’ said James.

Ugo laughed. ‘When the Emperor Napoleon conquered Europe, he took all of its riches for himself. He emptied the museums and art galleries and put their contents on show in Paris for the glory of his empire. Well, that is what I am doing also. My followers are everywhere. In all the places that were once part of the Roman Empire. In Spain, in France, in North Africa, the Middle East, Germany and, of course, in Britain. And from all these places they bring me treasure. Most of it, I ransom back to its owners, but the Italian art I keep. An emperor must behave like an emperor and he must look like an emperor. He must be surrounded by the finest things. I will become a new Caesar, a new Napoleon. One day I will show my full majesty to the world. For now, though, I work underground, tunnelling beneath the surface of society.’

‘Like a rat,’ said James. ‘In a sewer.’

‘We have wasted time,’ said Ugo. ‘I am very busy. How did you find out about Amy Goodenough? Who took you to her? Who helped you?’

‘No one,’ said James.

‘You may think that someone will be coming to set you free,’ said Ugo softly. ‘But that is not the case. Signor Delacroix has gone home and Signor Cooper-ffrench has had an unfortunate accident. It appears that the spirit of the carnival took hold of him. He became drunk last night and fell off my dam. Very sad. Now, tell me who helped you.’

James felt a cold, sick sensation in his stomach.