‘Schon is not just any bank, it’s the bank. The Man U of banks – and I say that as a Spurs supporter.’ I patronisingly spell out to Jeremy that when there’s a corporate mega-merger or takeover, or a government in financial difficulties, Schon will be there, counselling and scheming – for a humungous fee. And whatever side of the deal they’re on, erstwhile Schon partners will occupy important positions at the relevant multinational company or state institution. Schon’s network is everywhere, which is why it’s known as the ‘Brotherhood’. Who is the current American Treasury Secretary? A former Schon partner. Who is the finance director of Europe’s biggest oil company? An ex Schon Partner. Who is governor of the Banque de France? No need to ask.

This is the second time Schon has come up this morning. As Jess mentioned, they’re advising Media Corp. A coincidence? It’s a piece of the jigsaw, but I can’t see where it fits.

‘You make them sound like the Freemasons,’ says Jeremy.

‘No. The Freemasons are amateurs. Schon does run the world.’

Jeremy can’t tell whether I’m joking or not.

‘Jeremy, what’s Schon got to do with Clare?’

A seagull flaps down and lands on the lake about twenty yards in front of us.

‘I am not entirely sure. But Kendall had met a senior bloke from Schon the day before he dropped the policy. All very last minute, arranged that morning. I remember the Diary Secretary in a flap because she had to delay a meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England which had been in the schedule for months.’

Kendall kept the Governor waiting? For Schon? We’ve started walking again, across the bridge, back towards Whitehall. Buckingham Palace is behind us, and St James’s Palace to our left. To the right, the Home Office’s brutalist 1970s Lubyanka, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate, glowers from on high, unforgiving. Hundreds of years of imperial arrogance squatting in a few acres.

What is the connection between Schon and Clare’s outburst? Schon would be on a short list of financial institutions whose business would be hurt if pension funds had less money for investment and trading. But that kind of a hit would be a normal business risk for Schon, not life or death. I am missing something.

‘I don’t suppose you remember the name of the banker who visited Kendall?’

‘I asked the Diary Secretary this morning,’ Jeremy says.

I am impressed. ‘You are turning into quite the sleuth,’ I compliment. He grins. I should have clocked how desperate he is for approbation.

‘She told me it was someone called Robin Muller.’ He glances at me. ‘Does that name mean anything to you?’