"Of course, this is far beyond the call of duty, Stevens."

 

"I will do my best, sir. I may, however, have difficulty finding the appropriate

moment to convey such information."

 

"I'd be very grateful if you'd even try, Stevens.

 

Awfully decent of you. Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of

it.

 

Just convey the basic facts and be done with it. Simple approach is the best,

that's my advice, Stevens."

 

"Yes, sir. I shall do my best."

 

"Jolly grateful to you, Stevens. Let me know how you get on."

 

I was, as you might imagine, a little taken aback by this request -and

ordinarily the matter might have been one I would have spent some time

pondering. Coming upon me as it did, however, in the midst of such a busy

period, I could not afford to let it preoccupy me unduly, and I thus decided I

should resolve it at the earliest opportunity. As I recall, then, it was only an

hour or so after being first entrusted with the mission that I noticed the young

Mr Cardinal alone in the library, sitting at one of the writing tables, absorbed