‘Terrific.’ Mr Wright revolved his head until he looked more comfortable again. His brown eyes were deep-set and very small, but they caught the light as readily as billiard balls. ‘If you’ve done your preparation, Charlie, then you’ll know exactly what I’m looking for in people. First of all, an honest ego and a healthy body. Next, a love of truth and nature. You’ll require sincerity and courage. An aesthetic sensibility. A good imagination. Stop me if this doesn’t sound like you –’

Charlie didn’t know if he possessed these qualities – or all of them, at least – but kept his mouth shut. There was nothing to be gained from talking too much in the presence of a man like Wright. Listening and learning were much surer bets.

‘I’ll need you to appreciate not only the idea of work, but work as an idea. You understand the difference there?’

He nodded.

‘What about an instinct for cooperation. Have you got it?’

Once again, he nodded.

‘I’ll need you to be ready to take action, not just stand there, hemming and hawing.’ Reflexively, Domingo started towelling off the great man’s cheeks and neck. ‘And you’ll have a general distaste for what most people think is elegant, but which is really just the commonplace, the inorganic. If you don’t know what that means, then I can’t use you.’ Mr Wright began to rise now, as the barber cranked the footpump on the chair. In a flash, the sheet vanished from his shoulders and the cloth was yanked out from his collar. He sat up to approve his own reflection in the mirror. ‘Thank you very much, Domingo. Like a baby’s tush. Fine job.’

‘My pleasure, sir, my pleasure.’

‘One last thing.’ The great man stood. He went to loom at Charlie’s shoulder, gazing down at him. ‘Rebellion – you’ll need a bit of that in you. Not much. But some. It’s more important than you’d think.’ With that, he fetched his cane from the umbrella stand, where the portfolio was leaning – he collected this, as well, and took a seat. He had it on his lap, but didn’t open it at first. ‘Now, I can tell from what your old employer wrote that he believes in you. Quite frankly, I was moved – he speaks about you like a son. And I can see you’ve had your problems and some pretty awful luck. But here you are, still. I admire that.’ The great man loosened up the clasps on the porfolio. ‘I haven’t watched your film yet – sad to say, I couldn’t find the time. I promise you I shall, as soon as things get quieter. But all I’d like to know right now is why you want to work with us. What made you want to be an architect at all?’

Charlie had rehearsed this moment, acted out his lines until he had the whole performance so refined he couldn’t even recognize how much of it was false. But now the barber was beside him, casting the white sheet upon the air until it billowed down and landed at his chest. Warm fingers probed his collar, pushed against his neck. He said, ‘My sister.’