The Importance of Privilege

Philby's hands tremble as he pushes the tobacco further into his pipe. The odds of the Russians turning up in that moment and getting to him first are incredible. Two days later, Philby's back in London for a celebratory drink with Burgess. But Burgess looks like he hasn't slept for days. His clothes are dirty, and he's nervously chewing his filthy fingernails. And it's so funny that Philby will have been sat there thinking, well, I just hope something turns up. And it did. An ambulance full of fake Russian medics. He is so lucky.