Mr Tan rose with him. ‘I look forward to a long and continued association, Dr Wilson. I am sure you will not be disappointed.’

‘I am sure I will not, Mr Tan,’ replied Gary, making the greatest effort not to look too pleased.

The two men shook hands, and bowed to each other, and Gary walked across the lounge and up the stairs into the lobby. As he did so, he breathed a deep sigh of relief, and noticed that the palms of his hands were dripping with sweat.

He looked over his shoulder and saw, in the distance, Mr Tan slipping a bank note underneath the plate of scones and picking up the attaché case and his own briefcase.

Smartly Gary walked through the swing doors at the front of the hotel and turned immediately left into the corner of the taxi rank, pressing himself hard against the wall.

Mr Tan came through the door twenty seconds later and hailed a taxi. But he did not reach the door of the cab. As he approached it, two burly men–one dressed as a businessman, the other as a hall porter–converged on him from either side. One of them took the briefcase and pushed his left arm up behind his back, the other eased the attaché case from his right hand, but before he could pin back Mr Tan’s other arm, the Chinaman struck out at his assailant and knocked him off balance, then slammed his elbow into the face of the other man. In that split second he broke free and ran faster than a man of his size could ever have been expected to, past the row of taxis in the courtyard and on towards the Strand, his arms flailing.

But as he rounded the corner a third agent, who had supposedly been selling newspapers, performed a neat flying tackle and brought Mr Tan to the ground with a heavy thud. Winded himself, he stood up and leaned over his captive, ready to prevent any further attempts at escape. At that moment, before anyone could reach out and stop him, Mr Tan slipped his hand into his pocket and then into his mouth. Gary ran to give assistance, but by the time he had covered the twenty yards that lay between them, he could see Mr Tan’s body being convulsed with heaving spasms.

He knew that it was too late. Mr Tan’s lips were purple and his mouth contorted in agony. Gary could see the gold crown glistening in the sunlight. He could also see a speck of clotted cream on Mr Tan’s chin.

Chapter 25

In her first passion woman loves her lover,

In all the others all she loves is love.

Don Juan, Lord Byron, 1788–1824