Gilles said to the barman: ‘Make that two.’ Then, after paying for the drinks, and leaving his malt whisky on the counter unfinished, he sprang to his feet straight to his full height: ‘Why don’t we go through there, it’s warmer.’

They stepped up into a side room hung with framed photographs of the local cricket team taken in the 1950s. A fire burning, tables laid for dinner.

Settled in at a small corner table, Gilles did not pick up where they had left off.

‘You were lucky to get a room. Craig said they were booked for a wedding.’

‘Then he’ll have told you the bride’s aunt died on the ferry over from Ireland, and so it was decided to cancel the party, but to go ahead with a small ceremony.’

Gilles nodded. He would like to have stayed here tonight if he wasn’t taking Pierre next morning to a football match. ‘I must say,’ giving an approving look around, ‘this is a magical place to invite someone special. I must bring Silvi,’ his smiling gaze coming to rest on Dyer. ‘And you. Comment va ta petite amour?’

‘With who?’

Dyer sensed a predatory swirl on the surface.

‘Come on, Jean. You needn’t be shy with me. Let’s start with Miranda, pourquoi pas?’

Dyer’s laugh is that of a man who has thought of something else while he is removing the fly from a wild brown trout. ‘I haven’t set eyes on Miranda since your dinner party.’

‘I’m disappointed. That’s too bad.’

‘Though I did send her a list of books.’ Silvi would have told him this anyway.

‘Tiens, is that all?’ Gilles shook his head. ‘You should ask her out. I said to Silvi she was your type. I can see you two getting on. She’s not so, so …’ flicking his fingers.

‘Not so what?’

‘Russian,’ said Gilles, with an unexplained chuckle.

Clever Gilles. But Dyer had to be cleverer.

‘No,’ he agreed, ‘I don’t imagine she is.’

Is that all? Did Gilles know about the package? Dyer pushed back the thought. Gilles was doing what he did instinctively. He was no different from your average witch-doctor, making you believe that he knew everything about you.

Gilles looked at him carnivorously. ‘In Russia, they say if someone smiles, they are either stupid or telling lies.’

‘I’ve not been to Russia.’

They were circling each other.