‘No problem. He owes me big time. We put a bundle into his scheme to save National Expressways. Now we have to avoid a shit storm. You know what happens with regulators if they get boxed in by the fucking media? They think they have to act tough. Suddenly they remember the public interest. Speak to Goldstone and tell him to call me any time. I’ll explain to him that we are guaranteeing Tubal’s liabilities, if there are any – when are the final accounts due? – OK, that won’t be a problem. I’ll get somebody to work on it at the same time. Keep close. If anything comes up, announce a thorough internal investigation. Are your accountants on side? Good. Can you handle it?’

‘No problem.’

‘And the deposit is on its way.’

He feels reassured after speaking to Cy. Cy can move mountains. He swallows some cold water: his eyesight is not good and his throat is strangely constricted. His secretary tells him that Estelle would like a word.

‘OK, ask her to come over in about an hour. We’ll call to let her know. What’s it about?’

‘I don’t know. She speaks only to God.’

‘And God is me?’

‘Looks like it.’

‘OK! Promotion at last.’

He calls the Minister’s private number and leaves a message. Goldstone will know it’s urgent. Within five minutes he calls back. He is in his car being driven somewhere.

‘Julian, hello, how are you?’

‘Fine, Olly, and you?’

‘Phh, you know, chasing my tail. I take it this is not about tennis?’

‘No. I just wanted to tell you first that Cy Mannheim has made us a very good offer for the bank and we have accepted.’

‘That’s a shame. But still, why are you telling me this now, Julian?’

‘Well, you may have seen that there are some reports out there that we are in financial difficulties.’

‘Are you?’

‘No more than anybody else. Our interim accounts show that we are doing pretty well this quarter. Obviously we don’t want a panic at this stage.’

‘No, I can imagine you don’t. What am I supposed to do?’

‘It’s not for me to tell a secretary of state what to do.’

‘It never inhibited your old man. Tell me.’

‘OK, the hedge fund left us exposed, thanks to a certain Nobel laureate, but we have pumped in capital, our own mostly, to keep everything on an even keel, and we have agreed a price with Cy, which takes the situation fully into account, so if you can simply help keep a lid on it for a few months, everything will be tidily squared away. There are some rumours in the press too.’