‘She said you were going to have computers celebrating communion and hearing confessions.’

‘Really? Well, I’ll get on to this at once, Sir Prestwick.’

‘I mean, it’s just the repercussions we’re worried about.’

‘I’ll jump on it, Sir Prestwick. Trust me.’

‘You have to be terribly careful about things like repercussions in our industry.’

‘Of course you do.’

‘I suppose this is your man Macintosh up to his tricks again. Not a sound man, Macintosh, if I may venture to comment.’

‘I think you’re wrong there, Sir Prestwick. He’s pretty sound, is Macintosh.’

‘Sound, is he?’

‘Pretty sound.’

‘Yes, well, I must say, he seems sound enough.’

‘Between ourselves, Sir Prestwick, I’ve a shrewd suspicion that the culprit will turn out to be Goldwasser.’

‘Goldwasser, eh?’

‘I’m afraid he’s a born troublemaker.’

‘Well, I must admit I’ve never liked him myself. There’s something about him that rather puts one off.’

‘Not a nice man, I’m afraid.’

‘Not a nice man at all.’

‘Don’t you worry, Sir Prestwick. I’ll take Mr. Goldwasser’s number.’

‘Fair enough. Did you hear me say my compliments to your good lady before?’

‘I didn’t, as a matter of fact.’

‘Well, then, my compliments to your good lady.’

25

25

‘This is Mr. Goldwasser, Your Majesty,’ said Riddle, as Nobbs shook hands with Haugh.

‘No, no, no,’ smiled Mrs. Plushkov with exasperating patience. ‘That’s not Goldwasser, Riddle. That’s Riddle.’

‘For crying out loud,’ snarled Riddle. ‘He can’t be. Goldwasser’s Riddle.’

‘But my dear Riddle, you forget that Riddle is Plushkov.’

Everyone was standing in the lobby, glaring at each other, or leaning hopelessly against the walls and staring dully at the floor. The whole staff of the Institute was tired and cross. They had been in the corridors all week, rehearsing for the Official Opening, and they all had that dreary, crushed feeling in their intestines that comes from standing around for a long time without knowing exactly what one is supposed to be doing.