‘He set a standard and style that many writers, particularly Americans, aped. Sentences and descriptions that never ended. He seemed devoid of humour and his obsession with bull fighting has carbon-dated him. But he was a different kind of war reporter and a literary trendsetter from the nineteen-thirties to the fifties.’

They both felt uncomfortable as they walked back through Contrescarpe Square and passed an abandoned cafe, Delmas.

They headed back down Mouffetard. The street was blocked off, allowing a promenade for diners, shoppers and strollers, which gave Haut and Cavalier marginal comfort. Cars could not get through. They stood briefly outside several cafes and restaurants while Haut’s invisible ‘radar’ adjusted. He hesitated and squinted at cafe L’assiette aux Fromages. Cavalier followed him as he stepped back to La Crete.

‘C’mon, Al,’ Cavalier said, ‘you’re making me nervous now.’

Haut settled on Bistro Italian. They sat out of sight at the rear and ordered food and wine.

Haut outlined the surprising encounter with Norkov and how the Russian had not held him accountable for the attack on Natalia. Cavalier listened without interrupting. Haut finished with, ‘I suppose you’ll say “I told you so”?’

Cavalier shrugged. ‘My guess is that Norkov was not angry because they sent Natalia to seduce you.’

Haut nodded his reluctant agreement.

‘It’s most likely that she fell for you in the process. After all, marrying you would link you to Russia. Have you seen the old Bond movie From Russia with Love?’ Cavalier asked.

Haut nodded.

‘It’s not a perfect analogy,’ Cavalier said, ‘but the seduction principle is similar to your case. Except for one salient point. The movie is fiction. You’re living this.’

Haut picked at his food, while his eyes flicked often to the cafe entrance. He was reflective, going over the whirlwind series of events and people he’d dealt with in the last year.

‘It’s Bleulance,’ he muttered. ‘He would be behind what happened to Natalia.’

Cavalier waited.

Haut added, ‘It’s clear to me. He and Conquer know there’ll be dire consequences if they’re stupid enough to kill me. So they strike at someone close to me. Their big mistake, that not even I knew, was that Natalia is the daughter of a high state security person who is close to Putin.’

‘I believe that’s all most likely.’

‘They mutilated her,’ Haut said, tears welling. ‘They tried to stop us having a family.’

‘I think you’re right.’

‘It’s the way the devil works. Kill the unborn or the young. Remember Moses? In Jesus’ case also, Herod killed all the newborns in an attempt to get rid of the son of God.’

Cavalier didn’t respond. He preferred to listen to such utterances rather than comment. Haut’s words often brought back memories from when he was eight or nine at Sunday School.