‘Am I correct, John, in thinking you would normally go and watch Leandro?’ Updark’s politeness was self-willed. Until two months ago, he and Dyer had known each other only by their surnames. His use of Dyer’s Christian name took Dyer back to the emotion he felt when in a novel the author addressed him as ‘Dear Reader’; it was disconcerting, unearned.

Stick to the truth as close as you can had been Dyer’s rule whenever detained by the Policia Militar. He replied: ‘We got talking, and suddenly it was too late to drive to Winchester House.’

‘Talking about what?’

‘His wife and baby daughter, mainly.’

‘What about them?’

‘He said they’d been arrested in Tehran. And worse.’

‘Talk about his work, did he?’

Dyer looked at Updark. ‘He’s a physicist. It’s not my subject. I’m a South American hand, remember.’

‘But you ask questions, you’re curious.’

‘Exactly, you’re a journo,’ said Hissop.

‘Was.’

‘You’re always an ex-journo,’ in a knowing voice.

‘Did he talk about his work, John?’ said Updark. He was fretful, like a desk-bound colonel.

‘A little.’

‘How much is a little?’

‘Not much.’

‘Seem excited, did he?’ said Hissop.

‘A little.’

‘I wish you wouldn’t say that,’ said Updark. ‘“Little” pulls no man off his horse. Did he talk of magnetic confinement or plasma focus? Did he tell you about that? You spent a couple of hours chatting, remember. You’re the one person who seems to have had anything resembling a conversation with him.’

‘Like I said, he was worried about his wife and daughter.’

‘So how could you tell he was excited?’

‘I can see you’re excited by your work, but I don’t expect you to talk to me about it.’

Updark exchanged an impatient glance with Hissop. He had gone beyond Dyer and it was irksome to be treated as still in the same class. The muscles in his jaw tensed, as if he had clamped his teeth on a nut.

‘Look, I can’t force you to tell us. Only you know what Marvar said to you. But if you are willing to tell us, then we’d very much like to hear.’

‘I really don’t have anything to add.’ ‘I know I can trust you not to say anything.’ It wasn’t only what he’d promised Marvar. He was unsure, suddenly, of their motives.

Already, this was too much for Updark. ‘You were always a quick boy, John,’ in a tone suggesting that Dyer was no less rebellious than his best friend Rougetel. ‘But you’re not doing yourself any good. You may end up wishing your ears were a little deafer.’

Dyer gave him a sturdy smile. ‘Now why, Lionel, should I wish that?’

‘Let’s put a few cards on the table, shall we? Long story short, it is conceivable that your friend Rustum has made a scientific breakthrough.’