‘Very well done, Schmidt,’ John said, ‘but you’ve overlooked one little detail. Vicky has already dutifully informed her mysterious superiors – and thereby, I feel certain, Interpol and every police department in Europe – that I am the dashing Robin Hood of crime they have sought so long in vain.’

Schmidt choked, emitting a fine spray of crumbs. ‘Vicky! Did you do that? How could you?’

John gave me a kindly smile. ‘I don’t hold it against you, darling. You will wait for me, won’t you? Seven to ten years should do it, unless they make the sentences consecutive, in which case you may have to hire a wheelchair when you meet me at the prison gates.’

‘No, I’ll hire Max and Hans to break you out. I’ve always wanted to be a moll.’

‘A what?’ Schmidt demanded.

‘Gun moll,’ I said abstractedly. ‘Like Bonnie and Clyde.’

‘It is not amusing,’ Schmidt grumbled. ‘How can you joke about such a disaster, such a tragedy – ’

‘Shut up, Schmidt. Just let me think. I told . . . That’s right, I told Sweet and Bright. They knew anyway, they’re part of the gang, nobody is going to believe . . . And Larry Blenkiron.’

‘And?’ John had stiffened.

‘That’s all. Oh, damn. The tapes. They’ve got the tapes. But you didn’t say anything – ’

‘They don’t have the tapes. Feisal picked them up and handed them over to Larry. I was there when he destroyed them. You’re sure you didn’t mention me to anyone else?’

‘I didn’t tell Alice. She was the only person who identified herself to me. I don’t know to this day who the other agent on board was, if there was one. Am I a great spy or what?’

‘I can’t believe this,’ John muttered. ‘It’s too easy. There must be something we’ve overlooked.’

‘Very good,’ Schmidt said. He gave me a forgiving smile. ‘I should have known that in the struggle between love and duty your heart would triumph over your – ’

‘Shut up, Schmidt,’ I said.

‘So then, how does it stand?’ Schmidt bit into a pastry and chewed ruminating. ‘I see only one remaining difficulty. Are you prepared, John, to play the grieving husband? For if her part in this comes out it will be the knot that unravels the tangled skein of the truth.’

‘Very literary, Schmidt,’ I said. ‘I don’t know what the hell it means but it sounds good.’

‘It is obvious, what it means,’ Schmidt said indignantly. ‘The forced marriage, his knowledge of the plot, his earlier connection with her brothers – all these things will become known, together with your acquaintance with John, and your reputation, my dear Vicky, will be in ruins.’

‘Do you think I care about my reputation?’