‘I’m messing with you. I don’t really know precisely what they did in bed, apart from the obvious. What I do know is that Kendall took advantage of my contact’s junior position and pressurised him to have sex. It was an abuse of his ministerial position. And my contact feels it is his public duty to expose his misconduct, to protect others.’

‘Oh, I’m sure your source has a high moral purpose. But let’s get serious for a moment. How much does he want?’

‘Ah yes. He does need cash. His career will be kaput once he’s gone public. And as you know, my paper will only pay journalists, we never pay sources.’

‘Thankfully we don’t have those absurd scruples. How much?’

‘Twenty grand.’

Wilkinson puffs out his cheeks in disbelief. ‘Twenty grand! I am not sure we’d pay twenty grand for snaps of Prince Charles bumming a lady-in-waiting. He’s going to have to adjust his expectations.’

‘I told him that. I said ten grand would be nearer the mark. But we’ve got a bigger potential problem. Before I got to him, he’d reached out to a school friend who works at the News of the World. His friend’s on the sports desk, but has already told him that the paper will pay for his story. So if you want it, you’re going to have to move fast. I think we should do the deal tonight, or you risk losing it.’

‘Tonight? Really?’

‘My source is desperate. We need to lock him in or he’ll go elsewhere.’

I can see Wilkinson smells something’s not right. But equally, he knows my reputation for delivering top quality scoops. He’s torn, but his most basic instinct is not to see the story go to a rival. He’s pumped up by the opportunity to humiliate his competitors, and if he was the worse for a bottle or so of mediocre wine a few minutes ago, he is now sober. ‘Ten grand is a lot of money.’

‘Yes. But think of the splash headline: “My gay love romp with Chancellor”. “Kendall’s mint beefcake”. Ten grand is cheap at the price.’

‘Don’t ever apply for a job as a splash sub.’ I think I’ve landed him. Almost. ‘One more thing, Peck. What’s in it for you? This isn’t an FC story.’

‘Kendall was a shit to my sister. I want him brought down.’

That’s close enough to the truth. The words come out raw and bitter. Wilkinson can’t doubt my sincerity.

‘I’ll need to take advice. Give me a minute.’ He takes out his phone and walks into a corner in the hall. Left on my own, I ring Jess. ‘I think I’ve won his confidence,’ I whisper. ‘The plan is to go with him now to Breitner House.’