Ashley let out a deep sigh. ‘Jake, Jake, Jake, where do I begin? Some of these men are ancient, I admit. In their day, people still went to prison for liking men, so they hide it, get married, have kids and do all the usual things respectable men do, but sometimes they need to be themselves. That’s where this exclusive club comes in. There’s a code of silence, here. As they say, “what happens in Paris, stays in Paris”. What did you think the rooms upstairs were for? Yes, some of the men get put to bed when they are too pissed to go home, but others use it to be themselves, and indulge their natural urges.’ He looked at Jake and cocked his head to one side, as though explaining to a child.

‘You’re telling me, some of those old guys – stockbrokers, police chiefs and government officials – use this as a knocking shop for gay guys.’

‘Ouch! Jake, that wasn’t nice.’ Ashley looked offended. ‘Does it matter what job you do, or who you are? Didn’t you always fancy women when you were a penniless guy? Being loaded now doesn’t make a difference, does it?’

Jake nodded. Ashley had a point, and he was being unfair. He was just shocked. This place seemed so strait-laced; he couldn’t believe it. ‘Does Mathers know any of this?’

‘Oh, yes, Jake, Mathers knows everything. Nothing goes on here that he doesn’t know about. Before you ask, he’s not gay.’

‘Mathers lets all this go on and doesn’t bat an eyelid. Is that what you’re saying?’

‘Jake, come into the real world. Some of those guys out there went to famous public schools, and believe me, from what I’ve heard, that kind of thing is common practice there. Mathers has been butler at some of the grandest houses going, and I was once his under butler. You have to be discreet. You see everything and say nothing. Stuff like this is all old hat to Mathers; he’s seen it all before.’

Jake was gobsmacked; this was new territory for him. He didn’t know a lot about public schools or what supposedly went on inside them, but Ashley and Mathers seemed to, and now so would Tony. Maybe this was just another reason why they didn’t want Tony hanging around. He brought attention with him; people always wanted to know what he was doing and who with. These men didn’t want attention; they paid for privacy.

‘Where do you come in, Ashley? Do you turn tricks for this lot?’ Jake sounded harsh, and he knew it, but he wanted some truth.

Staring him directly in the eye, without his usual flamboyant smile, Ashley looked his age, possibly older. ‘I’ve done my bit in the past, Mr Sinclair, I don’t deny it, but these days I’m more of a go-between.’

‘You mean you’re a pimp. Tell me, Ashley, just a couple of last things. These guys who entertain, are they all above the age of consent? And is Ralph Gold a closet gay guy?’