SEIZING the moment, the two prisoners slipped out of the customs house. Constantine’s companion cut a path through the serried ranks of barbed wire, using a pair of wire-cutters which he just happened to have brought along, tucked into his jacket, and led him down to the harbour. There, they hired a small boat to take them to a Greek steamship which was just visible in the distance.

Before they could board it, the Turkish guard came back, but Constantine’s capable friend sent the man sprawling, and they reached their ship in safety. Constantine checked his belongings, and turned to thank his deliverer.

There was no one there.

Exhaustive enquiries up and down the steamship yielded nothing - no one had seen him board or disembark.

Years later Constantine did see him again, in a church in Thessalonica. He recognised him at once. He was looking down from an icon of the Patron saint, Demetrius.