"You don't trust our police?"

"I'm certain they're a fine body of men but yesterday they arrested one of their highest officials on a mass-murder charge – the Chancellor's chief security man. It shows their strength. And their weakness." I stood up and found my glass. It was empty and she took it from me.

"You haven't explained why you came here."

"Again, it was an alternative. I suggested a bar. You suggested here."

"I wanted to talk to you."

'To someone. Anyone."

"Yes. It was a shock. Did you think I hadn't any friends?"

"I still think you haven't. People with friends don't want to talk to strangers." She gave me another drink and her face looked bleak. The arrogance had suddenly gone. I added: "The silliest people can't move for friends. You see them at parties all over the place."

Her body had gone slack. "You made it easy to talk to you. It must have sounded a little hysterical. Do you dismiss me as a psychopath with a persecution complex?"

"Hardly. Someone's just tried to kill you a second time and you didn't even mention it."

"There's nothing to say about it."

But I still had to get that question answered before I left. She didn't dodge it. She didn't even see that I must want to know.

Suddenly it came. "They've got their reasons."

"They?"

"The Nazi group."

"The Nazis have their reasons for exterminating someone who's half in love with Hitler?"

"Must you put it like that?"

"Obsessed with the image of a dead god."