Gilroy was entirely still — for a moment. He stared at his hands. Then he nodded slowly without looking up.

Kells said: “I’ll be back here afterwards!”

He went out of the room, closed the door. He found a telephone, called Fenner. Fenner wasn’t in, he had the call switched to Hanline’s room; when Hanline answered, Kells told-him to send the two best muscle men he could locate to the entrance of Section R, Olympic Arena, quickly. Hanline said: “Sure — what’s it all about?” Kells said: “Nothing. What’s the use of having an organization if I don’t use it?”

On the way back to his seat Kells saw Fay. They walked together to an archway through which they could see the ring. The Filipinos were locked in a slow and measured dance; the electric indicator above the ring read: ROUND FIVE.

Kells asked: “Who’s interested in Shane?”

Fay shrugged. “His mother, I suppose...”

“Is this so-called syndicate building him up?”

“Sure.”

Kells pointed a finger, jabbed it at Fay’s chest. “And — who the hell is the syndicate?”

Fay said: “Rose — and whoever his backers are.”