‘Aw, to hell!’ roared Simon, and then grinned. ‘All right, all right!’ he said. ‘You win. I apologize.’

Dikon blinked. ‘Well,’ he said sedately, ‘I call that very handsome of you. I also apologize. And now, do tell me the latest news of Questing. I swear I shan’t boggle at sabotage, homicide, espionage, or incendiarism. What, if anything, have you discovered?’

Simon rose and shut the door. He then shoved a packet of cigarettes at Dikon, leant back with his elbows on his desk and, with his own cigarette jutting out of the corner of his mouth, embarked on his story.