‘He tortured you?’ I asked. ‘Favre?’

He said nothing.

‘Why did he burn your story?’ she asked, puzzled. ‘Was that after Favre was killed? And why did Favre leave him the recordings? What did he mean when he called him his comrade?’

Christopher waved a hand: his patience fraying. He’d heard enough. I turned to Cordelia and she had her fingers wrapped tight around the hem of her skirt. She looked white.

There was silence in the room. The clock ticked. Steam rose from our damp clothes and the hot coals clicked in the hearth.

‘He got what he deserved,’ said Cordelia, at last. It seemed like a hard thing for her to say.

I saw a delighted smile ripple across Christopher’s face.

‘Your father,’ she said, looking up at him. ‘He acted the right way. Did nothing but good. And nobody’s mourning this butcher from France. Nobody here has done anything wrong, have they? And we’re all good at keeping secrets.’

I suddenly realized what she was saying. This was over. We had our answers. We knew the identity of the man in the grave and he was exactly where he was supposed to be. I was about to ask what had happened to the body after Fairfax retrieved it but then realized I didn’t want to know.

‘Is that it, then?’ I asked. ‘We just forget?’

Christopher looked from Cordelia to me and back again. ‘You thought I was dead half an hour ago. Can you do so again?’

I nodded, knowing that I truly intended to try.

‘You can forget what we know, can you?’ asked Cordelia. ‘Just pretend we never met?’

‘That’s how my world works,’ said Christopher. ‘It’s all secrets and lies and pretence. I spin the plates and juggle the balls and try to keep friends from falling out and enemies from making up until it can be made to serve the interests of Her Majesty. This little incident? Nobody even cares. A bad man is dead. A good man got caught up in it. And two women from Gilsland know nothing that can cause embarrassment. My department brought a brave soldier to England and he has made a life here. And when an old enemy came knocking, we dealt with that as well. So, I will not do anything as demeaning as request a handshake, but could we all, in good faith, agree to draw a curtain around this week’s strange events? I fear the alternative would be to nobody’s liking.’

I looked to Cordelia. It was she who would have to decide whether this could be left alone. After a moment, she gave a slight nod.

‘I will remember you, but for different reasons,’ said Christopher, as we stood up. He was talking to Cordelia and she shot him a puzzled look. ‘We are always eager to find new recruits. I sense you would be an asset.’