‘Paul has made an interesting proposal,’ said Pritchard, in that fastidious tone of his. ‘But let’s consider it. I agree that Lagos Station isn’t capable of dealing with something of this importance, and that it’s vital someone go out there at once to do so. Because, of course, if the traitor’s not Chief, then the real Radnya may be among us.’ He paused to let that sink in, and then continued. ‘But while I’m sure we all sympathize with your desire to discover the true cause of your father’s disappearance,’ - he looked into my eyes at this point, and I tried not to react - ‘I’m not sure a matter of this magnitude should be influenced by individual officers’ personal concerns - however troubling they may be.’ He dropped a sugar cube into his tea and dipped his spoon in to stir it.

‘Chief’s an old friend of the family,’ I said. ‘If he’s a traitor, or involved in my father’s disappearance, I bloody well want to know.’

‘We all want to know,’ said Pritchard. ‘But have you ever even been to Nigeria? Or Africa at all, for that matter? It’s not quite la dolce vita, you know.’

It was another crack: my last posting had been in Rome. I didn’t rise to it, just asked him if he had any experience of handling Soviet defectors. ‘You don’t even speak Russian,’ I pointed out.

He laughed it off. ‘There are people in Lagos who can translate, ’ he said. ‘Someone translated Slavin’s interview, didn’t they?’

Not very well, I wanted to tell him. But I didn’t have the chance to formulate another response, because there was a cough from the head of the table. It was Farraday.

‘Gentlemen,’ he said. ‘Let us not bicker, please. I have come to my decision.’ Osborne started turning puce and made to interrupt. Farraday shushed him and smiled, pleased that he was exerting control and, finally, rather enjoying this espionage business. ‘Paul,’ he said, ‘you and Chief are very close - not just as colleagues but as friends. So I understand that this is something near to you. Believe me. And I quite see how the matter of your father’s disappearance is something you would want to clear up.’ He leaned back in his chair and spoke to a point on the ceiling, just left of the ventilator shaft. ‘But I agree with Henry: I think it’s probably best if he deals with this one.’

Then his head dropped down again and he smiled innocently at Smale. ‘Any chance of putting some more water on?’

My office was cold and cramped. I turned the radiators on full blast and lit a cigarette.