‘I’m sorry it’s come to this, Alex.’ Barbara is looking at me. ‘But I think you need help. I’m not sure if this all stems from that unfortunate incident when you were an intern or if it’s something more recent – you did say you’d been under a lot of pressure – but you seem to be delusional. Why, the way you assaulted Fiona and then ran from us just now! One minute we were talking and the next …’ She shakes her head and sighs, a paragon of sympathy and sadness.

‘I was given to understand there were several paintings that Dr Clayton has identified as problematic.’ Swindon uses my proper title without a hint of irony.

Barbara spreads her arms wide. ‘So she claims, however …’

Again I start to move, and again John holds me back, but I can’t just stand here and have this woman assassinate my character without fighting back. I shrug off his arm.

‘It’s completely true! Dr Swindon, I –’

The director of MIMA holds up his hand in a stop gesture. ‘Mr Montagu-Jones!’

Monty steps from behind one of the steel columns.

‘Fortuitously, Mr Montagu-Jones came to me with the disputed artworks, although he told me he was under instruction to put them in your office, Professor Cottrell. We’ll be able to have them properly analysed, but their presence in the Museum is certainly surprising, given they’re not part of our collection. And before you say anything else, I’m not sure if you’re aware of the marvellous art installation we have here at the moment in the Great Hall.’ He gestures to two huge parabolic dishes, visible now the lights are on. One stands at the far end of the hall, and the other is placed just behind where Barbara, Fiona and I had been standing. ‘It’s called Three May Keep a Secret, and it’s remarkably clever. It functions as something of a whispering gallery. So if you stand by one dish,’ he points to the far wall, near where I first saw him and Giles, ‘you can hear anything said by a person standing near the other dish, even if they’re whispering. No idea how it works, but it’s proven to be popular. And surprisingly convenient.’

The colour has drained from Barbara’s face and her hands are hanging limply at her sides.

‘I should also mention that security has been made aware of the situation and I’ve no doubt they have contacted the police. Perhaps if we wait in the boardroom.’ He steps to one side, inviting Barbara and Fiona to precede him just as two security guards enter through the far door. Swindon watches as the two women shuffle across the room and are gathered up and ushered away by the guards. Then he turns to me. ‘Obviously the police will need to talk to you as well, but you can wait in my office.’