And Calley might have said, you don’t know what I like, do you? How do you know what I like? But hearing the doors of the apartment open they fell silent and looked up. It was Don Ignacio. They watched him settle a broad-brimmed hat the colour of mouse fur on his head. He came down the steps. Medina and Calley stood as he passed them. He looked at them both. Medina made a shallow bow. Don Ignacio beckoned him and they walked together to the horses, heads together. When they had finished, Don Ignacio looked over at Calley, made the slightest of nods. Medina handed him the reins of the palomino then went to the gate, lifted the bar and pulled the gate open. A barefooted man was waiting outside, a beggar or perhaps one of Don Ignacio’s servants. Seeing Don Ignacio, he crouched down and let him mount the horse from his back. Red boots on a torn shirt. Medina swung the gate shut.

“I am free to go,” said Medina. He picked up his hat (it was at least black rather than yellow). “Though I am to remain in Lisbon at the Junta’s disposal.”

“What sort of man is he?” asked Calley.

“Don Ignacio? A powerful man. Or one who serves powerful men.”

“We all do that,” said Calley.

Medina smiled at him. “Good luck to you, Corporal Calley.”

Calley nodded. “One of those horses yours?” he asked. He knew none was.

Medina smiled again. “For the moment, the Spanish cavalry is without horses.”

He left; Calley barred the gate behind him. “Just me then,” he said softly. He sat again. He was not short of patience. He breathed upon and gently polished the brass plate on his shako; he combed out the feathers of the plume. He was in the process of retying his sash when the colonel appeared on the terrace above and some seconds later was joined by Captain Henderson and the man in the black coat. They came down together. Calley got to his feet again. As the colonel passed he glanced at Calley, made a little noise in his throat, the meaning of which was anyone’s guess, and went on to where the man in the black coat was readying his horse for him. Henderson, however, had stopped by the bottom of the steps next to the tiled basin. He gestured with his head. Calley went to him.

“When we are gone,” said Henderson, “you will return to the room and wait there until you are called.”

“Who is going to call me, sir? When you’ve all gone?”

“Just wait in the room. And see that you shut the doors behind you. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir. Perfectly clear.”