I went back to bed and tried to sleep. But I began to think about how I needed a telephone beside the bed and an answering machine and maybe a computer, or at least an electric typewriter. I tried to work out how much money I had and how much I was owed for the work I had done with the economists. My mind was racing and I knew I could not get back to sleep. I put on my dressing gown and went to the bathroom to turn on the hot water and then I went to the telephone and dialed Susan Ford’s number. She picked up the receiver immediately. I arranged to go out to her house as soon as I had washed and dressed and had my breakfast.

She was wearing a bright blue bow across her hair which matched her eyes. It made her look smaller and more ordinary.

“I was going to call you,” she said. “We have to have lunch tomorrow with the oil experts and some people from the oil business here. And there are also several people coming next week from various oil companies. Most of them are Americans. They will be here just to check things out. We’ll need you to look after them and keep them happy. For example,” she looked up and grinned, “I would rather they did not catch any venereal diseases during their time here.”

“I will make sure of that,” I said. “Would you like me to make a note of it?”

“Why did you call me so early? It’s not like you.”

I showed her the two letters from Jorge and reminded her of my reason for wanting to meet her and Donald.

“Do you think this man could make a good candidate?” she asked.

“Maybe I know him too well to say,” I said. “He was a friend of Perón’s and he is a successful businessman. He could be sold as solid and forward-looking, a safe pair of hands.”

“He sounds awful,” she said.

“I think that he’s a credible candidate. Under certain circumstances he could win this election and I think that you should take a look at him.”

“Why does he need us if he is a successful businessman?”

“He has backers of his own, but the general view seems to be that the Americans are prepared to spend a great deal of money on the candidate they choose. I think that he wants some of that money, but he also wants to make sure that it does not go to a rival candidate.”

“Let’s have a look at him then, if he’s serious. He has a big house, a big garden, a swimming pool, all of that?”

I nodded. She stopped and thought for a moment. She tapped her fingernail against the table.

“He should have a fund-raising party, invite people who are prepared to put money and energy into his campaign. He could invite us as well, and it would be easier then, perhaps, to assess his level of support. Otherwise, all we know about him is what we’ve heard from you.”