‘Humble pie!’ A collective and easily anticipated false bravado of arrogant rejection resounded around the table.
The prime minister stepped in to cool the outrage. ‘Are you saying, Mr Samuels, the church believes we have overstepped the mark? We have got things wrong? That we should admit to this publicly and change our ways? Apologise to the people? Is this what you are saying, Mr Samuels?’
‘Yes,’ Samuels replied, matter of fact. ‘Though we still need to establish that the Pope, Archbishop and Numpti did indeed send the packages (he knew they had, but had to suggest he did not), but no holy smoke without fire is the MI5 motto in these cases.’ It wasn’t, but Samuels thought it quite apt and, within himself, he chuckled some more, while externally he maintained his appearance of cold and
