The priest uttered his final words as he threw a handful of dirt over the coffin. Much of it was whipped away in the wind. The remainder rattled across polished wood. Then the mourners and the rest abandoned the graveside to the diggers who had been skulking among the gravestones beyond the path like lepers. And as the little group trod through the snow towards the gates they heard the first shovelfuls of earth clatter on to the coffin.

Bannerman became aware of Marie-Ange walking at his side. Tait was two or three yards ahead of them. ‘I did not expect to see you here, Mr Bannerman,’ she said. She pulled back her veil to reveal a pale, quizzical face.

‘They do a nice line in funerals. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.’

She sighed. ‘Are you ever serious?’

Bannerman said, ‘Why are you here?’ He saw annoyance flash momentarily in her eyes, then it passed.

‘Oh,’ she said, and looked away as if she had lost interest, ‘one has to keep up appearances. And anyway, I was sure you would be here.’

‘I thought you were surprised to see me.’

She turned a tiny smile on him. ‘We never finished our conversation the other night. You left rather abruptly, and without saying goodbye. It was very rude of you.’

The mourners had reached the gates now and stood in little groups indulging in desultory conversation, stamping their feet against the cold and wishing they were gone. Bannerman saw Sally watching him from a distance. Tait was scuffing his feet impatiently in the snow by the car.

‘You don’t seem particularly grief-stricken,’ Bannerman said. Marie-Ange looked surprised.

‘Do I not?’ She shrugged. ‘Appearances can be deceptive.’

‘So you are?’

‘Of course, Mr Bannerman. Death is always sad.’ She paused. ‘Look, Tim and I had an understanding of sorts. A relationship of convenience. There may even have been a little affection between us. But poor Tim, I’m afraid, had begun to take it all a little too seriously. Which doesn’t mean I’m not shocked by his death.’

‘And no idea why someone should want to kill him?’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘I understand the police have satisfied themselves that he and the politician shot each other.’

Bannerman shrugged. ‘A curtain of convenience that those in power have drawn on the affair.’

She seemed surprised. ‘Why on earth should they wish to do that?’

‘I have no idea. One thing is clear, though. Whatever the authorities might say, Slater and Gryffe were murdered.’ He watched closely for her reaction. Was there the slightest colouring of her face? The moment passed too quickly to be sure.

‘Really?’

‘I suppose you have no idea what Slater and the Minister were discussing that night at the party?’