“What sort of attention did your story get at the Times?”

“I don’t know; I modemed it in, and I’ll trust their judgment, but it’s a good story. Where are you off to?”

“A visit with my co-counsel.”

“Can I come?”

“Sorry, this is strictly business.”

Kramer shrugged. “Well, I’ve got nothing to do but file my story on the ouster of the international press, then it’s vacation until the trial on Monday, since Sir Winston won’t see me.”

“Lucky you; see you later.”

They got the car keys and drove out along the coast road to Sir Leslie Hewitt’s cottage. They found him weeding his back garden, and Stone was relieved to see that he recognized them. “Morning, Leslie,” he said.

“Good morning to you, Stone, and to you, Mrs. Manning.”

“Please call me Allison,” she replied with a winning smile.

“I thought we might talk about how to proceed at the trial,” Stone said.

“Of course we will,” Hewitt said, “but I wonder if I could ask a small favor of you before we begin?”

“Of course.”

“I’d like to give you some tea, but I’m out of milk. Would you be kind enough to run down to the grocer, about two miles along the coast road, and fetch me a bottle?”

“All right, Leslie,” Stone said, and Hewitt insisted on giving him money.

As he turned to leave, Hewitt offered Allison his arm. “May I show you the garden, my dear?” he asked, smiling sweetly.

“I’d be very pleased to see it,” she replied, taking his arm. “See you later, Stone.”

Stone drove to the grocery with ill grace, annoyed at being dispatched on such an errand when they should have been discussing how to save Allison’s life. He was struck by how completely lucid Hewitt was, as compared to their last meeting; the man apparently went in and out of his haze unpredictably. Stone bought the milk and drove back to the cottage, entering through the front door. He went to the kitchen to put the milk in the refrigerator and was surprised to find a full bottle there. Well, he thought, when I’m his age I’ll forget the milk, too. He walked out the back door into the garden and saw Hewitt and Allison deep in conversation on a bench at the bottom of the garden. When they saw him coming, Hewitt had a few more words to say, patted her on the knee, then rose to receive Stone.

“Come into my study, and we’ll begin,” Hewitt said.

Stone fell in alongside Allison. “What were you two discussing so seriously?” he asked.

“Gardening,” she replied.