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'How do you know that?'

'They faxed the vice-chancellor's office.'

Yes, Barry thought. It's definitely over. 'Time to update my CV it seems,' he said.

Finer turned on his heel. 'I wouldn't take too long about it,'

he said as he walked to the door. 'Hanging around this campus will do nothing for your long-term career prospects.' He paused in the doorway and stared back at Barry. His face was expressionless. 'Assuming you have any,' he said. 'Which I doubt.' An abrupt smile twisted his narrow features. Which I seriously doubt.' He reached for the door but, before he could pull the release, the door was pushed open from the other side and he was confronted by the Doctor and Leela.

The Doctor stepped back politely. After you,' he said, gesturing Finer forward.

Finer nodded his acknowledgement. 'If he owes you money,' he said as he passed the Doctor on his way out, 'take my advice and don't accept a cheque.'

Barry glared at the Doctor. 'Thanks for not telling me beforehand.'

The Doctor looked puzzled. 'Was I supposed to tell you beforehand?'

It would have been courteous.'

I wasn't sure you'd be here,' the Doctor said. He took the key he had been given from his coat pocket and held it out.

Barry ignored it. 'Is that why you faxed the office?'

The Doctor hurried through the lab towards the control and monitoring suite. 'I don't understand.'

Barry followed him. 'You told me you wouldn't withdraw my funding,' he accused.

The Doctor stopped in his tracks and thought for a moment. 'I don't think I said that, did I?' he said.

You said you would have nothing to do with the withdrawal of my funding.'

Ah yes,' the Doctor agreed. 'That is what I said.' He pressed on through the lab.

Barry continued to follow him. 'Why did you tell me that?'

The Doctor stopped again. 'I told you I would have nothing to do with the withdrawal of your funding,' he said, 'because I would have nothing to do with the withdrawal of your funding. I'm sorry if you misunderstood me.'

Barry said, 'Are you saying the foundation operates entirely independently of your opinion?'

'I imagine so.' The Doctor beamed wolfishly. 'Since they've never asked for my opinion.' He patted Barry's arm. 'I'm glad we've cleared that up. Shall we get on now? We have a lot to do and very little time to do it in. Isn't that right Leela?' The Doctor peered round the lab but Leela was nowhere to be seen. 'Where is the girl?'

'Who the hell are you?' Barry demanded. 'What do you want?'

'Did you see her?' the Doctor asked. 'She was right behind me.'

'Your assistant, you mean?' Barry shrugged. 'She didn't come in with you. I don't know, maybe she went with Finer for some reason. She is a bit eccentric, isn't she?'

'Erratic rather than eccentric,' the Doctor said. 'She comes from a peculiarly primitive background.'

Whatever,' Barry said. 'Maybe Finer's special brand of Yorkshire charm appeals to the peculiarly primitive.'

'Finer? Who's Finer?' the Doctor asked.

'Professor John Finer. He was on his way out as you came in.'

'He's from Yorkshire you say?'

'A lot of people are,' Barry said.

'Yes of course,' the Doctor said thoughtfully. 'So would that make it less or more of a coincidence I wonder?'

Barry said, 'I suppose it would be unfair to blame them all for pond scum like him.'

'You two don't get on.'

The first flickerings of anger stirred in Barry. The research fellowship he enjoyed so much had just been snatched away. It had disappeared in a puff of potential publicity. Have you ever met a rich man you could trust?'

I trust everybody,' the Doctor said.

Your life must be one long disappointment.'

'Not really,' the Doctor said. 'If you trust people and they let you down you're only unhappy once. Imagine the disappointment if you don't trust people and then they don't let you down?' He beamed. 'You have to be unhappy twice and that makes no sense.'

Barry was not really listening. 'You have to bear in mind that the only way anybody