“Thank you, sir,” said Seb.
“Now, sit down, young man, because time is against us.”
Seb perched on the edge of the stage, while Swann took him slowly through the meticulous research he’d carried out during the past six months, that had led him to only one conclusion. A conclusion Seb couldn’t find fault with. He jumped down from the stage.
“May I ask you one more question before I leave, sir?”
“Of course, young man.”
“Why didn’t you tell Collingwood what you’d discovered? After all, he couldn’t have lost a penny if he didn’t have to pay up until you were proved right.”
“I taught Dan Collingwood when he was at the grammar school,” said Swann. “Even as a boy he was greedy and stupid, and he hasn’t improved much since. But he wasn’t interested in what I might have to tell him, just fobbed me off with a five-pound donation and wished me luck.”
“So you haven’t told this to anyone else?” said Seb, trying not to sound anxious.
The old man hesitated for a moment. “I did tell one other person,” he admitted, “but I haven’t heard from him since.”
Seb didn’t need to ask his name.
* * *
Sebastian knocked on the door of 37 Cadogan Place just after eight o’clock. Cedric answered the summons and, without a word, led his young protégé through to the drawing room. Seb’s eyes immediately settled on a Hockney landscape hanging above the fireplace, before he admired the Henry Moore maquette on the sideboard. Seb didn’t doubt that if Picasso had been born in Yorkshire his work would also be part of Cedric’s collection.
“Would you care to join me for a glass of wine?” asked Cedric. “Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1959, which from the expression on your face I have a feeling you may have earned.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Seb as he sank into the nearest chair. Cedric handed him a glass and took the seat opposite him.
“When you’ve caught your breath, take me through the day, slowly.”
Seb took a sip. Not a vintage Mr. Ramsey would be serving at the Shifnal Arms that evening.
When Seb came to the end of his tale twenty minutes later, Cedric remarked, “Swann sounds to me like a shrewd old cove. I have a feeling I’d like him. But what did you learn from the encounter??
?? A question he had frequently posed when Seb had been his personal assistant.
“Just because a man is physically frail, doesn’t mean his mind isn’t still sharp.”
“Good. Anything else?”
“The importance of reputation.”
“Your father’s, in this case,” Cedric reminded him. “If you get nothing else out of today, Seb, that lesson alone will have made your journey to Shifnal worthwhile. However, now I have to face the fact that one of my most senior members of staff may be dealing behind my back.” He took a sip of wine before he continued. “It is possible, of course, that Sloane will have a simple explanation, but somehow I doubt it.”
Seb suppressed a smile. “But shouldn’t we do something about the deal, now we know what the government has in mind?”
“All in good time. First I’ll need to have a word with Ralph Vaughan, because he’s not going to be pleased when I withdraw the bank’s offer, and he’ll be even more angry when I tell him the reason why.”
“But won’t he simply accept one of the lower offers?”
“Not if he thinks there’s still a chance he might get a higher price if he hangs on for a few more days.”
“And Mr. Swann?”
“I’m tempted to give him the £8,234 whatever happens. I think he’s earned it.” Cedric took another sip of wine before he added, “But since there’s nothing else we can do tonight, Seb, I suggest you go home. In fact, as all hell is going to break loose tomorrow, perhaps it might be wise for you to take the day off and stay as far away from the office as possible. But report to me first thing on Monday morning, as I have a feeling you could be on your way back to Shropshire.”
As they left the room and walked down the corridor toward the front door, Cedric said, “I hope you didn’t have anything planned for this evening?”
Nothing special, thought Seb. I was just going to take Samantha out to dinner and ask her to marry me.