6 .sx Monday .sx Edward was at his desk , as instructed , by nine o'clock .sx The weekend had been a washout but there was Paris to look forward to .sx He had already booked one dinner , at L'Ambroisie in the Place des Vosges where they did the best ravioli in the world , Italy not excepted .sx He spent part of the morning discussing his lecture with colleagues .sx Every time the phone rang he expected it to be Mordaunt but , by the time he went out for lunch , the equerry still hadn't called .sx Edward was lunching with Thierry Dinant , a distinguished Belgian scholar from the Royal Museum in Brussels .sx Dinant had called Hillier about a week before but , on finding that the Director of the Royal Collection was in hospital , had invited Edward to Overton's instead .sx Edward made his way there shortly after one .sx Dinant's choice could not have been more convenient .sx The Belgian was tall and rather stern-looking , with thick glasses .sx He spoke perfect English .sx He was already seated at the table and greeted Edward warmly .sx " Monday's not the ideal day for fish , I know .sx But I can never resist the whitebait here .sx I hope you don't mind .sx " .sx Edward shook his head .sx " You seem more of a regular here than I am - and my office is across the road .sx " He smiled .sx " I have been travelling a lot recently , it's true , and to England as much as anywhere .sx I'll tell you why in a minute - but let's order first .sx " .sx Dinant caught the waiter's eye and for a while he was engrossed in ordering the food .sx Edward was half amused and half comforted by the seriousness with which he did this .sx When he had finished , Dinant sat back on the banquette seating and looked at Edward .sx " How bad is Hillier ?sx " .sx " I'm not sure .sx He's had an operation for two slipped discs .sx It's a tricky business .sx Some people recover quickly - and completely .sx Some don't .sx With him it's too early to tell .sx " .sx " I'll deal with you , then .sx " .sx " What on earth do you mean ?sx " .sx " I said I would explain why I have been travelling so much .sx For the last three years , besides my duties at the Royal Museum in Brussels , I have been head of something known as the Rubens Research Project .sx As you know , Rubens had a vast output and a large studio .sx Towards the end of his life he had gout .sx These facts taken together mean that there are inevitably certain pictures attributed to him that are nothing of the kind .sx It's the task of the Rubens Research Project to separate the wheat from the chaff .sx " .sx The waiter brought the wine and Dinant tried it .sx " Over the past months , I've been inspecting so-called Rubenses in - oh , Madrid , Milan , Melbourne , Moscow .sx Pleasant work but hard .sx I've also looked at the pictures in your Royal Collection .sx " .sx At this , Edward flashed him a look .sx That must have been agreed with Hillier , for this was the first Edward had heard of it .sx What was coming ?sx Dinant , who had been leaning forward , now sat back as the whitebait arrived .sx He squeezed lemon over them .sx " You .sx .. or should I say Her Majesty has a picture entitled The Three Marys at the Sepulchre .sx I'm sorry to say that my colleagues and I do not think this is by the master .sx " He swallowed some whitebait .sx Edward had guessed what Dinant was going to say moments before he said it .sx He toyed with his foot .sx How should he respond ?sx Dinant spoke again .sx " I'm telling you this out of courtesy , of course .sx Our research report will not be published until next year .sx You may like to alert Her Majesty in advance and perhaps alter your own attribution in anticipation .sx I'm sure that some newspaper will make play with the idea that a Rubens in the Royal Collection is a fake .sx " .sx Dinant showed no emotion as he said all this and he could not have guessed what was going on inside Edward's head .sx All Edward said now was , " What is your evidence , Thierry ?sx " .sx Dinant pulled down the corners of his mouth .sx " The picture is not mentioned in the letters .sx The minor figures , which in a real Rubens would have been painted by assistants , do not fit with the style of any known assistant , and the provenance is the same as one or two other pictures which we believe are fake .sx " .sx Edward didn't reply immediately but sipped some wine .sx Dinant was right about one thing :sx if the papers got hold of this they would have a field day .sx A fake in the Royal Collection !sx However , that wasn't what concerned him most .sx " Hillier is not going to like it .sx " .sx Dinant lowered his eyes .sx " I know .sx But I can't help that .sx They are not his pictures .sx They couldn't be sold anyway .sx We are not hurting anyone's pocket .sx " .sx " Yes - I see that .sx That's not what I meant .sx " .sx " What did you mean , then ?sx " .sx " It calls scholarship into question .sx He is certain the Three Marys is a genuine Rubens .sx " .sx " He is ?sx I'm surprised .sx There must be - what ?sx - two thousand pictures in the Royal Collection .sx He can't be expected to know everything intimately .sx " .sx " No .sx .. I agree with that .sx You're a good scholar , Thierry , but there are certain things you don't know .sx " .sx " You mean there's something else about this picture that I don't know ?sx " .sx " In a manner of speaking - yes .sx " Edward leaned back as the waiter brought their main courses and then fussed around , serving spinach , potatoes , hollandaise sauce .sx " Go on , " urged Dinant as soon as the waiter had left .sx " Explain what you mean .sx What don't I know about this picture ?sx " .sx Edward wiped his lips with his napkin .sx " You don't know that a month ago I sent Hillier a memo concerning the Three Marys .sx In that memo I said that I thought the picture was not by Rubens .sx For exactly the same reasons as you .sx He replied just before he went into hospital .sx He said I was wrong and implied , more or less , that I didn't know what I was talking about .sx Now you say the same thing as I do .sx He's not going to like it one bit .sx I haven't been at the Palace very long and I'm already having a run-in with my boss .sx Your research isn't going to help , either .sx In fact , it's going to make the situation a whole lot worse .sx " .sx 7 .sx Tuesday .sx Psychologically , and to an extent administratively , Buckingham Palace is divided into four .sx There are the royal apartments , at the north end of the building , which almost no one except the royal family and their personal servants ever sees .sx There is the administrative area on the west side , where Mordaunt and others have their offices .sx There are the great rooms of state :sx the ballrooms , banqueting halls , reception rooms for investitures , and so on .sx These are located in the centre of the palace , on the east side , looking out on to the Mall .sx Finally , there is a very small area with a very special function .sx Edward wasn't aware of this when he summoned , by Mordaunt , on the following Tuesday .sx It was again a glorious morning , so he walked over from St James's , arriving , as he had been asked , just before noon .sx He was due at Heathrow at five , for his flight to the Louvre conference .sx There should be plenty of time .sx This time , one of Mordaunt's three secretaries came to meet him at the Buckingham Gate entrance .sx She led the way deep into the palace , at ground-floor level .sx They passed a billiard room - for staff - with three tables ; several kitchens , a show-repair shop , a laundry where green velvet uniforms , with gold piping , hung in rows .sx They walked until they were , Edward judged , right under the royal apartments .sx He was shown up a staircase and into a room with an easy chair , and offered coffee .sx There was one other person in the room , a man a couple of years Edward's junior who , to judge from his haircut , shoes and general demeanour , was a policeman in plain clothes .sx Had Mordaunt gone back on himself and brought in Scotland Yard ?sx Now , perhaps , the mystery would be explained .sx The man nodded at Edward but said nothing .sx He was reading a paperback .sx Edward sat back in the easy chair and sipped his coffee .sx He had nothing to read as they waited .sx He was getting used to waiting .sx There had been no word from Mordaunt yesterday after lunch .sx He had waited until six , growing steadily more tetchy .sx However , on his arrival at St James's Palace this morning , The General told him immediately that he was summoned to BP .sx " You look worried , Edward , " she added .sx " And you've worn the same tie two days running .sx Am I allowed to know what's going on ?sx " .sx Edward shook his head .sx " I don't know what's going on , General .sx I'll tell you as soon as I find out anything .sx If I'm allowed to .sx " .sx She sniffed .sx " You're as bad as the son .sx He has his secrets too .sx " .sx Though Wilma always succeeded in cheering Edward , his sense of well-being had soon been lost as he walked from one palace to the other .sx Edward had been slightly miffed by his treatment from the equerry .sx He hated being kept in the dark .sx But at least things should be cleared up now .sx The whole business had obviously been moving behind the scenes .sx He looked across at the policeman .sx He seemed a bit young to be of senior rank .sx At the same time , where Edward now sat was obviously some sort of anteroom :sx perhaps Mordaunt and the policeman's superior were in the next room , discussing the affair .sx No sooner had he thought this than the inner door opened and Mordaunt appeared .sx " Come in , Andover , " he said .sx " Bring your coffee with you .sx " .sx Mordaunt beckoned Edward forward .sx " Do you know Mr Lockwood ?sx " .sx As he stepped into the room , Edward took a large breath and tried not to let his jaw hang open .sx As he shook hands with the Prime Minister , he said , " We met once , at the Royal Academy dinner .sx " .sx The Prime Minister nodded but said nothing .sx In the newspapers it was often said of William Lockwood that he bore a marked resemblance to the late Herbert von Karajan , the German conductor .sx He was small , with wiry , iron-coloured hair , an intense gaze and deep creases in his cheeks .sx Slightly dazed by the sudden turn of events , Edward found himself a seat next to a window .sx He could see now that they were in a sort of sitting-room with french windows at the far end , opening on to a balcony and , beyond that , a bed of roses .sx Rather late in the day , he took in the fact that , this being Tuesday , the Prime Minister must have just finished his weekly audience with the Queen .sx So this was where it took place .sx Amazingly , the Prime Minister appeared to be waiting for Mordaunt , who had slipped back into the anteroom and was speaking in subdued tones to the policeman who , Edward now realized , was a bodyguard .sx The equerry came back in , closing the door behind him .sx " I was just checking with Webber , sir , " he said to Lockwood .sx " I understand you are due at the New Zealand High Commission at one-fifteen .sx We may need all the time in between but we'll try not to make you late .sx " .sx Lockwood moved his gaze from Mordaunt to Edward .sx He looked serious .sx " Now what is all this ?sx Her Majesty asked me to stay on - and so I have .sx But - " .sx " In fact , sir , " interrupted Mordaunt , " it will be better if Dr Andover speaks first .sx It's always better from the horse's mouth .sx " The equerry looked across at Edward .sx " Edward , tell the Prime Minister about the paintings you have been sent .sx " .sx Edward did as requested .sx How many times was he going to have to tell his story , he thought to himself , without finding out what the damn mystery was all about ?sx At least he had a new snippet to add to what Mordaunt already knew .sx " A third picture arrived this morning , " he ended .sx " This one is a Poussin sepia drawing .sx It's signed and was stolen - by the Nazis again - in Piacenza .sx