Chattaway was chairing the editorial meeting. A bit of time when he wouldn’t be disturbed. He picked up the telephone and dialled the number for the C.R.O. at Scotland Yard. “This is Detective Constable Howarth, 930 F,” he said. “I want to check on a fellow, name of Jackie Field, F-I-E-L-D, aged between 30 and 35, height six foot one. No address. Suspicion he might be involved in prostitution. My number is BRI-2452.” “I’ll call you back, Detective.” An old trick: the C.R.O. clerks were too busy to check credentials. As long as you sounded kosher, it was free information. He knew plenty of hacks who took advantage of it. Down to work: getting to know Viscount Asquith. He took out Debrett’s: ASQUITH. THE 4TH VISCOUNT ASQUITH, Stallingborough, Co Lincoln; Recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms and matric arms, served in Great War 1916-18, with Royal Corps of Signals, in the Far East, b. 10 Nov. 1890, educ. Stowe, Trin. Coll. Camb. (BA), and Aberdeen Univ. (BSc), m.
