‘They often get these things wrong.’

‘They occasionally get these things wrong. But not in my case. There may be a variant of a few weeks, but that’s all.’

‘Oh.’ I nodded. It is hard to know how to respond suitably to this kind of declaration because people’s needs can be so different. I doubted that Damian would want wailing and weeping or suggestions of alternative cures based on a macrobiotic diet, but you never know. I waited.

‘I don’t want you to feel I am raging at the injustice of it. My life has, in a way, come to a natural conclusion.’

‘Meaning?’

‘I have, as you point out, been very fortunate. I’ve lived well. I’ve travelled. And there’s nothing left in my work that I still want to do, so that’s something. Do you know what I’ve been up to?’

‘Not really.’

‘I built up a company in computer software. We were among the first to see the potential of the whole thing.’

‘How clever of you.’

‘You’re right. It does sound dull, but I enjoyed it. Anyway, I’ve sold the business and I will not start another.’

‘You don’t know that.’ I can’t think why I said this, because of course he did know exactly that.

‘I’m not complaining. I sold out to a nice, big American company and they gave me enough money to put Malawi back on its feet.’

‘But that’s not what you’re going to do with it.’

‘I don’t think so, no.’

He hesitated. I was fairly sure we were approaching what they call the ‘nub’ of why I was here, but he didn’t seem able to progress things. I thought I might as well have a shot at moving us along. ‘What about your private life?’ I ventured pleasantly.