She extended her hand. ‘Well, Mr Cayman-’

‘You can call me Jack.’

‘You can call me Miss Lincoln,’ she said firmly, feeling that it was time she reclaimed the ground she’d lost in that burst of frankness.

‘Yes, ma’am,’ he said meekly.

‘Now, the sooner we get down to work the better.’

‘Would you just give me a few minutes first?’ he asked hurriedly. ‘I’ll be straight back.’

‘Of course. It’s just down the corridor on the right.’

‘Thanks,’ he said, hurrying out of the door.

It was several moments before it dawned on him that she’d directed him to the gentlemen’s convenience.

For the past week Cedric Tandy had been in his office half an hour early, so it was plain misfortune that when the crucial day came he was half an hour late.

‘Oh no,’ he moaned at the sight of the man waiting for him. ‘Signor Rinucci-I assure you-’

‘It’s all right, Cedric,’ Primo said pleasantly. ‘I just thought I’d drop in for a chat.’

‘Perhaps I can show you around and introduce you-’

‘That can come later. I’ve been looking over the financial arrangements Enrico and I made for you, and it struck me that they were rather on the mean side. I’m sure you deserve something more generous.’

‘Well-that’s very good to hear but-Signor Leonate said that your firm couldn’t pay any more-’

‘You leave him to me. If he won’t fund an increase I’ll do it myself.’

Cedric gaped as Primo walked to the door and looked back.

‘By the way,’ he said, as if something had only just occurred to him, ‘I’d rather nobody knew who I was, just at first. They think I’m Jack Cayman. It’ll give me a chance to meet people in a more spontaneous manner. I know you’ll back me up.’