Her explanation sounded plausible even to herself and Mr. Brewstead stared down at what he had written.
At that moment a man came into the Agency.
He was middle-aged and dressed neatly if inconspicuously.
He walked up to the desk with an air of authority and Cañuela stood aside for him.
“Good day, Mr. Hayward,” Mr. Brewstead said effusively, “we were not expecting to see you back so soon.”
“I am afraid,” Mr. Hayward replied, “the young man you sent us was hopeless – quite hopeless. His Spanish was slow and laboured and his Portuguese non-existent!”
“Tut, tut. I am indeed very sorry,” Mr. Brewstead apologised. “His references were excellent.”
The middle-aged man gave a faint smile.
“The standard of Spanish that the English find adequate is useless where my employer is concerned.”
“
