It’s enough to make anyone think, and no doubt Ah-bing has become obsessed with the whole thing. He telephoned again today. He knew that I had received the letter, and wanted to know what the ‘certain matter’ was. He refused to take no for an answer; he had to ask me what the letter was about. Since his father had accorded ‘that matter’ such importance, and since he was his son, he thought he had a right to know, and hoped I would tell him. I understood completely – only he had to understand me: his father’s last words were clear. Under absolutely no circumstances was I to reveal this secret. I had to keep it buried for ever. The letter made no mention of exceptions. No exceptions meant I was not to tell anyone, not even his son. This was a dying man’s last wish and I intend to honour it.