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that Iran doesn’t want America having an interest in such a vital asset. You’ve got enough American soldiers and bases here already. You couldn’t let them within a mile of Imshan without having Russia breathing down your neck.’
    Khorvan looked at him with dislike. He had turned rather a sallow colour, a sure sign that he was close to losing his temper. He wasn’t accustomed to the tone used by Logan.
    â€˜There is a Franco-German consortium,’ he said.
    â€˜I know there is,’ Logan shrugged. ‘But they won’t be able to make an investment on this scale for no profit either.’
    James spoke to Logan. He could feel the tension in the atmosphere.
    â€˜Perhaps we should go away and look at the figures.’
    â€˜I know the figures,’ Logan answered. ‘So does the Minister. If we build this refinery, we have no profit for ourselves. It’s as simple as that.’ He offered his gold cigarette case to Khorvan.
    â€˜No,’ the Minister said, forgetting his manners. ‘I only smoke Turkish.’
    â€˜I used to like them,’ Logan said. ‘Now I use these things.’ He held up a mentholated filter tip cigarette. ‘They’re supposed to be safer. I don’t suppose it makes any difference. “La illah, illalah wa huwa qadir all kulli shayy.”’
    James nearly fell off his chair. ‘There is no God but Allah and he is powerful over everything.’ He had no idea that Logan knew a word of Arabic or Farsi. Even Khorvan showed that he was impressed. Field looked at him and the hard lines of his face creased into the smile which held such charm.
    â€˜And if Allah wills that we build you a refinery, Minister, then who knows? I’ll take Mr Kelly’s advice. We’ll go away and think about it. It would help if we could have another appointment with you before the end of the week.’
    Khorvan stood up.
    â€˜Unfortunately I am going out of Tehran.’
    Logan didn’t move.
    â€˜Then when will you be back?’
    â€˜In ten days’ time.’
    â€˜I think we should have a meeting before then.’ Logan stood up. ‘I have an audience with the Shah and I can’t go to the Palace with this question unresolved.’
    Khorvan hesitated. He had no knowledge of a date being fixed and he was unprepared. The last thing he wanted was for Field to bring the question up before the Shah until he had undermined the whole negotiation.
    â€˜How long will it take you to consider your figures, Mr Field?’
    â€˜When do you leave Tehran?’
    â€˜On Thursday. I don’t like to travel on a Friday.’ As a devout Moslem, he avoided working or moving about on the equivalent of the Christian Sabbath.
    â€˜Then it’ll, take us until Wednesday morning,’ Logan said. ‘Mr Kelly will fix the time with your secretary.’ He held out his hand and gripped the Minister’s hand until it hurt. ‘Good morning, Minister.’
    Khorvan sat down as they filed out. He had no intention of leaving Tehran, and as soon as Field had gone, he put through a call to the Palace and asked to speak to the Minister of the Court. He learned that, although the British Ambassador had made a formal application for Logan Field to see the Shah, no date had been given. Logan had scored a point off him that morning, but it was insignificant beside the battle Khorvan had just initiated with that impossible demand. They couldn’t hope to comply and he was confident that he could make their refusal seem like intractable greed to the Shah. Once it became a matter of government policy, Iran had no choice but to force the terms upon the Western company or suffer a loss of face. Either way, Imshan would not fall into the hands of Imperial Oil and Logan Field; and the Russian technologists, with all due modesty, could re-present themselves.
    Peters had finished packing up; all that remained of his possessions were a