Chapter 4
A few days later I returned to Oxford to interview Professor McKinley.
His office was located in the west wing of the same faculty as Professor Margaret Spencer, where large gardens presided all around the majestic entrance to the Gothic building. I crossed a wide courtyard consisting of beautiful arcades with pointed arches and went up a narrow staircase to the second floor. There, I knocked on his door.
‘Come in,’ a deep voice said. On entering, I saw the ageing professor with grey eyes and even greyer hair look up from a large volume. ‘Take a seat!’
The office was lavishly decorated with naval motifs, models of legendary sailing ships, and glittering steamboats. A magnificent anchor hung by the window, and a pair of small compasses took pride of place on his table. The pro
