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Simon recognized the uncommunicative expression on the diplomat’s face and accepted it was pointless to press him.

‘But, in return,’ said the Ambassador, ‘you’ll be expected to remain silent about Prince Ahmed’s involvement in Conti’s death.’

‘And if I don’t agree?’

‘I’ll have to retire and you’ll be found guilty of Conti’s murder and hanged by the neck until you’re dead. But,’ the Ambassador assured Simon, ‘I will attend the ceremony on the government’s behalf, before reporting back to my masters.’ He paused. ‘That’s what we in the Foreign Office call gallows humour.’

Simon managed a laugh. ‘And Avril Dubois, will she also be safe once the arms deal has been signed?’

‘Yes, but not before, and the police are still protecting her night and day.’ He paused, ‘On a personal note,’ commented the Ambassador, ‘you look a little better than you did when I last saw you.’

‘Only thanks to my cellmate,’ said Simon, ‘who gets double rations and more time out of his cell than any other prisoner.’

‘How come?’

‘His days are numbered, so no one wants to cross him, including the Governor.’

‘But doesn’t that put you at risk?’ asked Sir Bernard, sounding anxious. ‘After all, he has nothing to lose.’

‘I can assure you, Ambassador, my life will be in far more danger after he’s executed, when I’ll be joined by another murderer, who I suspect this time won’t speak English.’

Before Simon could say anything more, a guard entered the room grabbed him by the arm and said, ‘Time’s up!’

‘Then let’s hope you’ll be back in England before then,’said the Ambassador, as his countryman was dragged out of the room.

‘Let’s hope so,’ said Simon, ‘as my cellmate only has a few more weeks to live.’

•••

‘Order, order!’ declared the Speaker. ‘Questions to the Foreign Secretary. Question number one, Mr Peter Bottomley.’

The member for Bucklebury rose from the opposition back benches and said, ‘Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask the Foreign Secretary if any progress has been made on securing the release of my constituent, Mr Simon Hartley, who remains incarcerated in a Saudi Arabian jail?’

The Rt Hon. Robin Cook MP rose from his place on the government’s front bench, placed a thick file on the dispatch box, opened it and began to read an answer that had been prepared for him by Mr Trevelyan.

‘I can tell the Honourable Member that I have been in touch with my opposite number in Riyadh, and he assures me due process is being carried out, while further investigations take place.’

‘Playing for time!’ shouted a Tory backbencher.

‘Flimflam!’ offered another, before Mr Bottomley rose again to ask his supplementary question.

‘The Foreign Secretary’s reply, Madam Speaker, can hardly be described as encouraging, remembering how long my constituent has been languishing in prison, and that he still hasn’t appeared in court to enter a plea to the charge made against him. And should the Foreign Secretary be interested to know what that plea might be, I can tell him, it’s Not Guilty!’

Hear, hear! echoed around the chamber, and Robin Cook looked uneasy as he glanced down at his brief.

‘I would like to know, Madam Speaker, why we will be entertaining diplomats from the Saudi Arabian government in ten days’ time as honoured guests, when one of our countrymen continues to be falsely imprisoned on that government’s authority. Is it just possible, Madam Speaker,’ continued Bottomley before the Foreign Secretary could reply, ‘that the government is more interested in securing a lucrative arms deal than in pressing for the release of an innocent man?’

‘Shame!’ came from several members on the government benches, but Bottomley ploughed on. ‘And if that is the case, Madam Speaker, I am bound to ask if this is just another example of how much his much vaunted “ethical foreign policy” seems to have evaporated into thin air within days of the Right Honourable Gentleman taking office.’

Hear, hear! came from all sections of the House when Mr Bottomley sat down. The Foreign Secretary resumed his place at the dispatch box. This time Mr Cook left the thick file unopened and pronounced, ‘I sympathize with the Honourable Gentleman …’

‘A fat lot of good that will do,’ came back a cry from someone on the opposition benches, which was greeted with even louder cries of, ‘Hear, hear!’ and not just from his own side.

‘Let me assure the Honourable Member,’ continued Cook once the House had settled, ‘that my department is doing everything in its power to speed up the process, and I will of course keep the Honourable Member informed of any progress.’

‘Don’t hold your breath,’ shouted another backbencher as the leader of the opposition rose from his place on the front bench and placed his hands on the dispatch box.

‘Mr William Hague,’ said the Speaker.