A week later, an ominous message arrived from Gilbey’s secretary: please could he remain in his office after work? Mr Gilbey would like to speak with him.

Hendrie ensured his own office door remained wide open so Gilbey would know where he was. By a quarter to eight, he feared Gilbey had forgotten about him, which might not be such a bad thing. He’d wait until eight and maybe look up and down the corridor.

Gilbey appeared silently in his office, his elegant woollen coat buttoned up, a silk scarf visible at his neck, his dark trilby in place and leather gloves in the process of being adjusted, finger by finger.

‘I presume you’ve not eaten, Hendrie?’

Before Hendrie could reply, Gilbey had made a come with me gesture with his head and walked out of the office. Hendrie hurried after him.

‘We’ll eat at my club. If we get a move on, it might not feel quite so chilly out there.’

It was a pleasant enough dinner, accompanied by a surprisingly sweet Bordeaux. Gilbey talked about his dogs and his wife’s family’s farm and asked Hendrie just enough questions so as not to appear rude. After dinner, they retired to a room on the upper floor, where an alcove had been reserved for them with a large fire roaring and a bottle of port waiting on the small table between two large leather club chairs arranged close to each other.

‘No one will hear a word we say, as long as we don’t shout. In any case, if you can’t trust members of the same club, who can you trust, eh? This is a rather splendid port, Hendrie, fifty years old. Help yourself.’

Both men settled into their chairs and drank. Then Gilbey leaned forward, the reflection of the flames bouncing around his face.

‘Ten out of ten, Hendrie – well done.’

Hendrie appeared confused: was Gilbey talking about the port? ‘I beg your pardon, sir?’

‘Prince. We’ve checked him out and he seems splendid, everything you said he was. His speaking Danish – well, about time we had a stroke of luck like that. Your intuition about him being right for us was spot on. His Chief Constable is fighting to keep him, of course, but he doesn’t stand a chance. I thought it only fair to tell you I’m taking him on, and obviously you’ll mention his recruitment to no one.’

‘Naturally, sir.’

There was a long silence. Gilbey poured them each another port and leaned forward, staring into the fire, addressing the flames as if he was talking to someone behind them. ‘Apart from this being an opportunity for me to express my appreciation to you, Hendrie, there is something I’d like your help on. I’ve told Bentley he’s to release you for a while. A special project. Are you interested?’