‘Don’t be fucking ridiculous, J.D. This is big. Wake up. Something huge fell into my lap about the Tubals. To put it very simply, all is not well with Tubal and Co.’

‘What, specifically? Dowager aunt choked on foie gras, a racehorse had to be put down?’

‘They’re bust.’

‘Are you sure? Jesus, are you absolutely sure? You aren’t taking crack before breakfast again, are you?’

‘No, I am serious. And I can stand it up. I have a source. We have a source. And documents. If you agree to help I will show them to you, but you can trust me, they demonstrate a massive fraud to prop up the bank’s balance sheet.’

‘What am I supposed to do?’

‘I can’t run with this story, cold, on my own down here in the outer reaches of civilisation, but between us we can make this work.’

‘Eddie, are you absolutely on the level? This isn’t just the last hurrah, Maxwell and your non-existent pension fund or something?’

‘No, no. Please J.D., try to listen, I need you to help me with this. Get a train and I will pick you up at Plymouth and you can look at the material with me. It’s mind-blowing. Can you come down tonight?’

‘OK. Exes?’

‘Yes, I’ll pay. But not first class. Ad revenue is falling.’

‘Do you know the train times off-hand?’

‘Yes, I am prepared.’

He tells his old friend the train times and they settle on the 19.45 arriving at 23.27.

‘I’ll book us into the ultra-luxurious Francis Drake Lodge. Running water in several rooms. Have you got a mobile?’

‘Of course. I had to let the carrier pigeons go, they were eating me out of house and home. OF COURSE I’VE GOT A FUCKING MOBILE.’

‘OK. Get another pay-as-you-go – yes, we’ll pay, with a receipt – then ring me so that I have that number. See you at 23.27.’

Financial journalists come, broadly, in two types, those who admire and suck up to the rich and those who loathe and envy them. J.D. has always been in the second category. He hates their guts.

Melissa finds the editor behind his desk looking at a printout; he waves at her to sit down. He passes her a note. Ring me in half an hour.

‘Melissa, lovely to see you. Your blog is very good, sparkling. You have overtaken the Winkles as our number one website favourite. Nearly one thousand people in the Duchy read your deconstruction of cupcakes and fifty-two posted comments. Just wanted to say that I am very pleased with your work. By the way, has Mr MacCleod thrown any light on the nature of his windfall?’

‘Only that it came from his wife. But you knew that.’

‘Is it going to be a regular occurrence?’

‘I don’t think he knows, but he seems pretty happy. He’s got big plans.’