As soon as I arrived I realized that everyone must have been waiting for me: a local courtesy? There was a concerted rush towards the bar. Rows of filled glasses were standing there waiting to be drunk. If the students who collected me had mentioned that there was a party being delayed until I arrived, I would have understood, hurried up, skipped the irritated feeling. Still, they were not to blame. Conversation roared around me. Waiting staff circulated with trays of canapés, from which I managed to extract a single bite: raw fish, cream cheese and some kind of vegetable. Later someone gave me a glass of wine, as because of the press of people I could not get to the bar. I did not particularly wish to see Professor Wendow, but if he was there he was keeping out of my way.

My hosts now were two graduate students, one male, one female, from the Revisionist History Department. In the noise I could not hear their names clearly. I liked them both and was attracted by their easy conversational style and, as an unsought-for bonus, by their apparent familiarity with several of the books I had written. Without going into my reasons in detail, I asked them both not to address me as Doctor, saying I preferred the use of my given name. They were fine with that. The ice was being broken in many different respects.

After another five minutes the woman disappeared from the party to return moments later. She said the audience was seated and ready for me to begin. It seemed the crowd of partygoers were not the audience, or not entirely. Several people were drifting away in the direction of the auditorium, but most appeared to be staying on at the drinks party.

The couple led me to the platform, where three red leather chairs and a lectern were waiting. There was a good if polite round of applause. I was introduced twice: the woman spoke knowledgeably of some of my books, and the man gave a brief summary of my professional life and various achievements and awards.

I stepped forward to the lectern. The remote control for the slideshow presentation was in place: I had forwarded the software a week earlier, and someone from the Society had replied to say that it had been tested and was working. It was too late now to make certain of that.