“Maybe so. Point taken.” Max, embarrassed by the gentle reproof in his tone, shifted his gaze. “But it was more complicated than that, Rowland. You see, I’d virtually decided not to send Gini to Bosnia. I had my doubts about sending a woman to cover that war, whatever her experience. Her relationship with Lamartine counted against her—that kind of involvement, in a war zone? I thought it could be counterproductive, unwise. On the other hand, I did want Lamartine’s photographs—very badly indeed. Everyone was after him. If you remember, it was over three years since he’d last covered a war. He’d had that period out, being—well, a paparazzo is really the only term. Now, God knows why he did that—I’ve certainly never dared ask. Massive divorce bills, or so I’ve heard. Massive demands from the not-too-pleasant ex-wife. Whatever the reason, the moment word got out that he was returning to war coverage, going to Bosnia, every single one of our rivals was chasing him. And I was determined to clinch the deal.” He paused, and looked back at Rowland, who was listening intently:

“I thought it would be a question of money, and autonomy, allowing him a major say in what he covered, when, and where. I was wrong. He had a third demand; non-negotiable. Genevieve Hunter went with him. They had to go as a team. And if I wouldn’t agree to that, then another paper would. That was the deal.”

This admission was met with a lengthy silence. Rowland’s frown had deepened.

“Now, listen, Rowland, I want you to be clear about this. She didn’t put him up to it. Well, I suppose I can’t say that with absolute certainty—I have only Lamartine’s word for it. But he isn’t a liar, and he wouldn’t let himself be used. Nor would she use him, Rowland. She has her faults, as you’ll discover if you work with her, but lack of scruples isn’t one of them. Quite the reverse.”

He paused. Rowland still remained silent. Max gave a shrug.

“So, now you know the truth. If I’m perfectly honest, if Lamartine hadn’t held a gun to my head like that, I’d have refused. But, as it was, he gave me very little option. And he was very persuasive on her behalf.”

Rowland gave him a sharp glance. “He’s a persuasive man?”

“Very. I like him, and I admire him, and I respect his judgment. If you met him, I’m sure you’d agree. All right, he was speaking as a man who was in love. He was partisan, and he admitted that. But he was fighting to get her a chance, a chance he felt she had earned.”

“And his confidence in her wasn’t misplaced,” Rowland interjected. “As subsequent events proved.”

“Well, yes.” Max hesitated again. “She was impressive. The work she did was very fine. So the ends justified the means. It’s just—”

He broke off; Rowland did not prompt him, and his silence gave Max a twinge of uncertainty. In the same situation, would Rowland have acted as he had?