I rang Jeremy immediately. ‘Sorry I couldn’t tip you off,’ he said. ‘The paper swore me to secrecy. And they’ve squirreled me away to a lavish hotel in Hampshire, to protect me from the media storm.’

‘But . . .’ I was so shocked, I couldn’t get my thoughts in order at all. ‘What about your mum?’

‘Here’s the funny thing. I told you I was worried about what she would feel about me being gay, that she would be mortified. But she said she always knew.’ He laughed. ‘Quite a way to come out, really. But I’m glad.’

‘Why do it now?’

‘I couldn’t sleep knowing Kendall had got away with it. Don’t judge me, but I wanted to get my own back. For myself. But also for your sister.’

‘You know this will cost you your career in the Treasury?’

‘You’re probably right, although don’t forget I’m the victim.’

‘I’m afraid the mandarins won’t see it that way.’ Surely he knows that the British establishment way is not to make a fuss in public? If a Chancellor has misbehaved, better to deal with it discretely, out of the gaze of the hoi polloi. Even if Jeremy keeps his job, all routes to promotion would be blocked, for the duration.

‘Well, I made sure the Globe would cushion my fall, if it comes to that.’ He sounded almost happy. ‘They’ve given me quite a decent safety net.’

‘How much?’

‘Fifty thousand.’

‘Jesus.’

There was a pause. Then he said, ‘Do you think she would have approved of what I did? Clare, I mean?’

He has touched a nerve. Recent events have shown me how much she changed during our estrangement, so I may be the worst person to ask. But I am certain of one thing. ‘I’m not sure she would have approved of your choice of publication, but she always stood up to bullies. And Kendall is a bully.’

This seemed to reassure Jeremy. And I assume he was gratified when, the following morning, Downing Street issued an exchange of terse letters between the Prime Minister and Chancellor, in which the Chancellor’s resignation offer was accepted. The absence of the normal pleasantries from the Prime Minister – the habitual and clichéd thanks for service to queen and country – was conspicuous.

‘Why do you think Breitner decided to destroy Kendall?’ I asked Jess when I returned to fill her in. ‘Obviously he sanctioned the payment to Jeremy. No one else would have had the authority to pay fifty grand.’