‘Well done, Seb, you saved the day. Now the only task you have left today is to make sure the Daimler remains outside the Savoy until we know Mr Morita and his colleagues are safely tucked up in bed.’
‘But it’s only a couple of hundred yards from the hotel to the theatre.’
‘That can be a long way if it’s raining, as your brief encounter with Professor Marsh’s wife should have taught you. Besides, if we don’t make the effort, you can be sure someone else will.’
Sebastian got out of the car and entered the Savoy at 6.30 p.m. He walked across to the lift and waited patiently. Just after seven, Mr Morita and his two colleagues appeared. Sebastian bowed low and handed them an envelope containing three tickets.
‘Thank you, young man,’ said Mr Morita. They made their way across the foyer, through the swing doors and out of the hotel.
‘The chairman’s car will take you to the Theatre Royal,’ said Sebastian as Tom opened the back door of the Daimler.
‘No, thank you,’ said Morita, ‘the walk will do us good.’ Without another word, the three men set off in the direction of the theatre. Sebastian bowed low once again, before joining Tom in the front of the car.
‘Why don’t you go home?’ said Tom. ‘No need to hang about, and if it starts to rain, I’ll drive up to the theatre and pick them up.’
‘But they might want to go to dinner after the show, or to a nightclub. Do you know any nightclubs?’
‘Depends what they’re lookin’ for.’
‘Not that, I suspect. But either way, I’m staying put until, to quote Mr Hardcastle, they’re safely tucked up in bed.’
It didn’t rain, not a drop, and by ten o’clock Sebastian knew everything there was to know about Tom’s life, including where he’d been to school, where he’d been billeted during the war and where he’d worked before becoming Mr Hardcastle’s chauffeur. Tom was chatting about his wife wanting to go to Marbella on their next holiday, when Sebastian said, ‘Oh my God,’ and slithered down the seat and out of sight as two smartly dressed men walked past the front of the car and strode into the hotel.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Avoiding someone I’d hoped never to see again.’
‘Looks as if the curtain’s come down,’ said Tom, as hordes of chattering theatregoers began to pour out on to the Strand. A few minutes later, Sebastian spotted his three charges making their way back to the hotel. Just before Mr Morita reached the entrance, Sebastian got out of the car and bowed low.
‘I hope you enjoyed the show, Morita San.’
‘Couldn’t have been better,’ Morita responded. ‘I haven’t laughed so much in years, and the music was wonderful. I will thank Mr Hardcastle personally when I see him tomorrow morning. Please go home, Mr Clifton, because I won’t need the car again tonight. Sorry to have kept you up.’
‘My pleasure, Morita San,’ said Sebastian. He remained on the pavement, and watched the three of them enter the hotel, cross the foyer and head towards the bank of lifts. His heart began to beat faster when he saw two men step forward, bow and then shake hands with Mr Morita. Sebastian remained rooted to the spot. The two men spoke to Morita for a few moments. He then dismissed his colleagues and accompanied the two men into the American Bar. Sebastian wanted desperately to go into the hotel and take a closer look, but he knew he couldn’t risk it. Instead, he reluctantly slipped back into the car.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Tom. ‘You’re as white as a sheet.’
‘What time does Mr Hardcastle go to bed?’
‘Eleven, eleven thirty, depends. But you can always tell if he’s still up, because his study light will be on.’
Sebastian checked his watch. 10.43 p.m. ‘Then let’s go and find out if he’s still awake.’
Tom drove out on to the Strand, crossed Trafalgar Square, continued on down the Mall to Hyde Park Corner, and arrived outside 37 Cadogan Place just after eleven. The study light was still burning. No doubt the chairman was triple-checking the contract he was anticipating the Japanese would be signing in the morning.
Sebastian got slowly out of the car, climbed the steps and rang the front door bell. A few moments later the hall light went on and Cedric opened the door.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you at this late hour, chairman, but we’ve got a problem.’