Mr Conducis said: ‘A certain amount of leakage at this stage is probably inevitable and if correctly handled may do no harm. You may inform your company of all the circumstances. With a strong warning that the information is, for the time being, confidential and with this proviso: I wish to remain completely untroubled by the entire business. I realize that my ownership may well become known: is known in fact, already, to a certain number of people. This is inavoidable. But under no circumstances will I give statements, submit to interviews or be quoted. My staff will see to this at my end. I hope you will observe the same care, here. Mr Boome will be instructed. Good morning. Will you – ?’

He made that slight gesture for Peregrine to precede him. Peregrine did so.

He went out on the circle landing and ran straight into Harry Grove.

‘Hall-lo, dear boy,’ said Harry, beaming at him. ‘I just darted back to use the telephone. Destiny and I – ’ He stopped short, bobbed playfully round Peregrine at Mr Conducis and said: ‘Now, see what I’ve done! A genius for getting myself in wrong. My only talent.’

Mr Conducis said: ‘Good morning to you, Grove.’ He stood in the doorway looking straight in front of him.

‘And to you, wonderful fairy godfather, patron, guiding light and all those things,’ Harry said. ‘Have you come to see your latest offspring, your very own performing Dolphins?’

‘Yes,’ said Mr Conducis.

‘Look at dear Perry!’ Harry said. ‘He’s stricken dumb at my misplaced familiarity. Aren’t you, Perry?’

‘Not for the first time,’ Peregrine said and felt himself to be the victim of a situation he should have controlled.

‘Well!’ Harry said, glancing with evident amusement from one to the other of his hearers. ‘I mustn’t double-blot my copybook, must I? Nor must I keep lovely ladies waiting.’ He turned to Mr Conducis with an air of rueful deference. ‘I do hope you’ll be pleased with us, sir,’ he said. ‘It must be wonderful to be the sort of man who uses his power to rescue a drowning theatre instead of slapping it under. All the more wonderful since you have no personal interest in our disreputable trade, have you?’

‘I have little knowledge of it.’

‘No. Like vinegar, it doesn’t readily mix with Oil,’ Harry said. ‘Or is it Shipping? I always forget. Doing any yachting lately? But I mustn’t go on being a nuisance. Goodbye, sir. Do remember me to Mrs G. See you later, Perry, dear boy.’

He ran downstairs and out of the main door. Mr Conducis said: ‘I am late. Shall we – ?’ They went downstairs and crossed the foyer to the portico. There was the Daimler and, at its door, Peregrine’s friend the chauffeur. It gave him quite a shock to see them again and he wondered, for a dotty moment, if he would be hailed away once more to Drury Place.