‘I was just explaining to young Stannard that I am considered to be quite the liberal by some of my club members,’ Sir Percival said. ‘As you know, I regard the white man’s purpose in Africa to be a moral one. We have a duty to prepare the natives for the day when they will be ready to run their own nations. I doubt it will be in our lifetimes, but even if we do not see the fruits of our labours, we must still plant and nourish the seeds, eh?’

‘I completely agree, sir,’ Stannard said. ‘To me, the only justification for empire is the good it can do for people less fortunate than ourselves. What do you think, Mr Courtney?’

‘We have that duty, certainly. But we need to move a lot faster towards granting Kenya its independence.’

Stannard looked surprised. ‘How interesting. Why do you say that?’

‘Partly as a matter of principle. I’ve always had more faith in the native peoples’ abilities than most in these parts.’

‘You should be aware, Stannard, that Leon’s views make mine seem positively conservative. He is looked on as a dangerous radical by every other white man in this room,’ Sir Percival said, chuckling. ‘He’s just so damnably rich that no one dares say so to his face.’

‘A few of them have said so, loudly . . . and rudely,’ Leon said. ‘But I’m not as bleeding hearted as they think. I reckon it’s in our self-interest to give more control to the people and keep their goodwill. Better that than have Kenya torn from our hands and lose everything.’

Stannard frowned. ‘Do you really think there’s a chance of that?’

‘Bloody Mau Mau animals . . .’ Sir Percival muttered. ‘They’re a bunch of savages. Apes in human form.’

‘Well, I certainly don’t condone what the Mau Mau are doing,’ Leon said, ‘though their victims so far seem to be restricted to their own people.’

‘They’ll be coming after us next, mark my words.’

‘They may well, Percy, but if we want to outwit our enemy, we should pay attention to what he says and wants, and why he’s here in the first place.’

‘I can tell you exactly why he’s here. Ingratitude, greed and the pernicious influence of Bolshie agitators.’

‘Do you think there’s more to it than that, sir?’ Stannard asked Leon, and suddenly Leon saw a hint of the brave batsman in the young man’s watery eyes.

You think there’s more to it, don’t you, lad? he thought. Right then, I’ll tell you what these other stuffed shirts won’t.

‘In my opinion the Kikuyu have genuine grievances, and the reason that some of them have resorted to violence – which, I say again, I deplore – is that when they tried to make their case peacefully, no one paid a damn bit of attention.’

‘Oh really, Leon, that’s a bit much!’ Sir Percival protested.

‘Well, how would you feel if all your land was taken by people from another country?’