Peregrine said: ‘I’ve always felt this would happen and now I can’t believe it.’

‘The question is: what is to be done with them?’

‘You will keep them for the time being?’

‘We are prepared to do so. We would very much like,’ said the expert and Peregrine caught the wraith of a chuckle in the receiver, ‘to keep them altogether. However! I think my principals will, after consultation, make an approach to – er – the owner. Through you, of course and – I imagine this would be the correct proceeding – Mr Greenslade.’

‘Yes. And – no publicity?’

‘Good God, no!’ the expert ejaculated quite shrilly. ‘I should hope not. Imagine!’ There was a long pause. ‘Have you any idea,’ the expert said, ‘whether he will contemplate selling?’

‘No more than you have.’

‘No. I see. Well: you will have the reports and a full statement from us within the next week. I – must confess – I – I have rung you up simply because I – in short – I am as you obviously are, a dévoté.’

‘I’ve written a play about the glove,’ Peregrine said impulsively. ‘We’re opening here with it.’

‘Really? A play,’ said the expert and his voice flattened.

‘It isn’t cheek!’ Peregrine shouted into the telephone. ‘In its way it’s a tribute. A play! Yes, a play.’

‘Oh, please! Of course. Of course.’

‘Well, thank you for telling me.’

‘No, no.’

‘Goodbye.’

‘What? Oh, yes. Of course. Goodbye.’

Peregrine put down the receiver and found Winter Morris staring at him.

‘You’ll have to know about this, Winty,’ he said. ‘But as you heard – no publicity. It concerns the Great Person so that’s for sure. Further it must not go.’

‘All right. If you say so: not an inch.’

‘Top secret?’

‘Top secret as you say. Word of honour.’

So Peregrine told him. When he had finished, Morris ran his white fingers through his black curls and lamented. ‘But listen, but listen, listen, listen. What material! What a talking line! The play’s about it. Listen: it’s called The Glove. We’ve got it. Greatest Shakespeare relic of all time. The Dolphin Glove. American offers. Letters to the papers: “Keep the Dolphin Glove in Shakespeare’s England.” “New fabulous offer for Dolphin Glove!’ Public subscriptions. The lot! Ah Perry, cherub, dear dear Perry. All this lovely publicity and we should keep it secret!’

‘It’s no good going on like that.’

‘How do you expect me to go on? The Great Person must be handled over this one. He must be seen. He must be made to work. What makes him work? You’ve seen him. Look: he’s a financial wizard: he knows. He knows what’s good business. Listen: if this was handled right and we broke the whole story at the psychological moment: you know, with the publicity: the right kind of class publicity…Look – ’

‘Do pipe down,’ Peregrine said.

‘Ah! Ah! Ah!’