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damnation, but I didn’t want to get into real trouble.’
    â€˜Ah yes.’ Mr Van Appin’s brow cleared. ‘I remember now. Anyway, to get back to what we were saying just a moment ago, I’d rather assumed that that was it, as far as you were concerned. Terribly sorry to lose you as a client and all that, but these things happen. In fact, the term “banged to rights” did float across my mind more than once in connection with your affairs. Nobody followed you here, did they?’
    â€˜Unlikely,’ said the fugitive. ‘As far as I can see they haven’t the faintest idea when I am, let alone where. Listen, Peter, I want to fight this one.’
    Mr Van Appin raised an eyebrow. ‘Fight it, George?’
    â€˜Yeah.’ The fugitive nodded. ‘Call it a matter of principle.’
    Mr Van Appin frowned again. ‘That’s expensive talk, George.’
    â€˜I’ve got the money.’
    Mr Van Appin shrugged. ‘I don’t doubt that you do. Even then, I can’t really hold out much prospect of success. Those soul-and-purchase contracts are the nearest things you’ll ever get to watertight.’
    The fugitive looked amused. ‘Are they really.’
    â€˜â€™Fraid so, George,’ replied Mr Van Appin. ‘I drafted them myself. And,’ he added, with a wisp of nostalgia, ‘I was good then. Just starting up, I was, anxious to make a name for myself. Landing a client like that, I wanted to make a good impression.’
    â€˜So you don’t think it’s possible?’
    â€˜I think it’ll be very, very difficult,’ Mr Van Appin replied. ‘Mind you, I’m looking at the worst possible scenario here, you understand.’
    â€˜Playing devil’s advocate, in fact.’
    Mr Van Appin smiled without amusement. ‘You could say that,’ he said. ‘Actually, I don’t act for them any more. All their work’s done in-house these days.’
    â€˜Really?’
    Mr Van Appin nodded. ‘Makes sense,’ he said. ‘After all, they get their pick of the entire profession down there, sooner or later.’
    â€˜Except you, Pete.’
    A faint pinkness experimented with crossing Mr Van Appin’s cheeks. ‘Flattery will get you nowhere,’ he said. ‘I’m not saying it’s impossible, George. Nothing’s impossible. I just can’t see how, that’s all. Maybe I’m getting old or something.’ He stopped, tapped his teeth with a pencil, and considered for a moment. ‘That’s a thought, actually,’ he said. ‘A hundred years ago I’d have accepted like a shot. Why don’t you try our office then?’
    (As a result of the unique nature of his practice, Mr Van Appin found it convenient to have a main branch office in every century, with sub-offices at thirty-year intervals to take over his practice each time he retired. Because of his equally unique skills, he had never been able to find a worthy partner or associate, with the result that he ran all his offices simultaneously, thereby taking the concept of overwork into a whole new dimension.)
    The fugitive shook his head. ‘Nah,’ he said. ‘I’ve got other business to attend to in this decade, Pete, I couldn’t find the time.’
    There was a long silence.
    â€˜It’ll cost you, mind,’ said Mr Van Appin.
    â€˜Like I said,’ the fugitive replied. ‘No worries.’
    Mr Van Appin grinned. ‘In that case,’ he said, ‘I’ll need a copy of the original agreement, a signed affidavit from the Holy Ghost and fifty billion guilders on account.’
    â€˜I thought you’d say that,’ replied the fugitive. He passed over the attaché case he’d brought in with him. Mr Van Appin raised the lid and nodded.
    â€˜Where can I call you?’ he said. ‘I imagine you’ll need to be hard to find for a