Charlie sat relaxed in the enormous office, aware of Wilberforce’s eyes upon him, his face masked against any emotion. Several times the Director stopped during the account, but Charlie’s complete lack of response kept forcing him into further details. ‘That’s it,’ completed Cuthbertson, at last. The whole story.’ Still Charlie said nothing. ‘I was very wrong about you, Muffin,’ offered the Director, finally. ‘Really?’ prompted Charlie. Now I know how Gulliver felt among the little people of Lilliput, he fantasised. Edith’s warning of the previous night presented itself and he subdued the conceit. It would be stupid to get too confident, as she had warned. ‘Your debriefing of Berenkov has been brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I’ve written a special memorandum to the Minister, telling him so.’ He must remember to question Janet about it, he thought. Cuthbertson was a lying sod. ‘Thank you,’ said Charlie. ‘And you were quite right about Berenkov having a contact at the research station at Portland.
