‘Your husband is a great man, Vicky,’ Tulenkov said. ‘He is a samurai of commerce. I would like to take him back with me to Russia. We could learn from him.’

‘Some day,’ Lionel said, ‘I should like to visit your country, General.’

‘But that is excellent! What could be better? You must both come and stay with us. When can you come?’

Lionel smiled. ‘Not this year, I’m afraid. I can’t possibly spare the time.’

‘If not this year, then next year. With so long notice there will be no difficulty in your arranging things. Come in the spring – that is our best time.’

‘We’ll see,’ Lionel said. ‘A lot can happen in a year. But we’re deeply grateful for the invitation.’

‘That is your Western year,’ Tulenkov said, ‘not ours. In Russia, nothing happens in ten years.’ He smiled. ‘That is not quite true, of course. We move faster than we did at one time. We are learning.’