‘… that’s where we are now. I don’t even know which side I’m on any more. I swear, if we’d had to insist that every family throw their first-born child in the Thames in order for the Americans to stay on our side, they’d nod it through the House without a second thought. We’ve lost sight of what we’re fighting for. These things … these atrocities – you think they’re isolated incidents? This is the world we’ve made. We’re lapdogs. We don’t know our place in the world so we chum up with a bully so the other tough bugger doesn’t shove us around. It’s not about ideologies any more. We’ve picked a side so we have to do whatever is asked of us, even if it’s something that makes us sick. We’re the sort who’d rather blow up the moon than let the Russians get there first. You think they don’t know in Washington what their allies are up to in Guatemala? They showed them how to do it! Every bit of counter-insurgency in their arsenal is either American-made or American-trained and we just look the other way because we need them to be on our side. I can’t stand it. Of course I’ll do something. I’ll have to go through the official channels and you and I both know it will come to nothing but there are some things more important than queen and country – you were the one who taught me that …’

The recording stopped. I was left listening to dead air.

‘You were talking to Walter Renwick,’ said the man, matter-of-factly. ‘Our sainted former Ace of Hearts. Quite the legend and still the charmer, it seems. He’s been under observation since he arrived back in the country. We knew he had somebody inside the Service but it was a surprise when the recording arrived. Old Poofter Cranham’s trouble-and-strife, eh? Who’d have thought. You certainly weren’t on anybody’s list of likely suspects, though that’s what friends in high places will do for you. They’ll no doubt make this go away too. Perhaps you’ve been under pressure. Excess of emotions, that kind of thing. A silly mistake by somebody trying a little too hard. It happens. I’ve seen it and worse besides.’

I took one of the cigarettes from the packet. It took a monumental effort not to let my hand shake.