Sam Brigger

It's called A Private Spy.

And there's one letter to you in this book.

And I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I read it.

Yeah, it's terrifying.

I can't remember which one it is.

Okay, well, I don't think it doesn't read terrifying.

But this was on the occasion of your 21st birthday.

I don't know if in Britain turning 21 is as big a deal as it is in the United States.

A rite of passage in some ways.

Yeah.

Okay.

So here it goes.

My dearest Nick, I have had this little candlestick in my workroom for the last 25 years, from the last years of my first marriage and all through my second till today.

It acquired a corny but real symbolism for me, and in bad times I would shove a candle into it and light it as some kind of affirmation of belief in myself, my talent, my survival.

for this reason I wish you to have it now with my love as an antidote to occasional despair I hope it will remind you that you are a good man when you need reminding and your own man and no one else's and that you have one life only and no candle ever got longer and that you have a great spirit and a lot to do with all my love David so that's a that's a lovely letter do you still have that candlestick

You know, it's a lovely letter and it's a very thoughtful gift.

Were you able to appreciate it at the time you were 21?

Or were you like, oh, thanks a lot, it cancels.

I saved the most important question for last.

So I hope you're prepared for this.