‘Tell you about the last time I saw her? We were on this BBC panel discussion up at the university. Run-up to the independence referendum, you know, passions were high – but she just lost it, eh. Fell to pieces right there in front of all these students, just because I’d challenged her on something – oil or who knows what. The rage, this incoherent emotional nonsense she was talking, making it all about me, about my “moral failings”. She stood up and she screamed “Judas” at me. Actually screamed it. I’d not seen her like that, the whole time we were together, but then it takes its toll on women, doesn’t it? At that age. The hormones. I mean, you could see something wasn’t right. And all these students laughing. I wanted to stop the whole thing, right away, just wrap my coat round her and take her offstage, you know? Make it stop. But I didn’t, because it meant we were winning.’

He exhaled noisily, went back to his drink.

‘That was always Clio’s problem, though, was it not? Never knew when to keep her mouth shut.’

Neil just nodded.