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‘Only a probationer, sir, and I was one of those not so long ago’

‘And you will be again if I don’t get my moon dust back’

‘I’ on it, sir, but I need to ask you a few questions’

‘Not again!’

‘Did the Aive the phial ofof Manchester University as a gift?’

‘Yes, we did But there were conditions attached We made it clear it was never to be passed on to anyone else, and that under no circumstances was it to be sold to a third party’

‘And was that put in writing at the time?’

‘It most certainly was, and we have the documentation to prove it And now, as I’m sure you are aware, a Dr Keith Talbot has put the phial up for sale at Sotheby’s’

‘Yes, I did know, sir I have the catalogue in front of me’

‘Then you will see on page thirty-one, lot nineteen, a phial of ht back fro’

‘However,’ said Willia left the phial to Dr Talbot in his will’

‘It wasn’t his to leave, Detective Constable Warwick, as I made clear to DS Roycroft’

‘You did indeed, sir But I am sure you understand that we must follow the letter of the law’

‘At a snail’s pace, it would seeal team is at your disposal’

‘That’s good to know, sir, because ouldn’t want to do anything to harm the special relationship between our two countries, would we?’