I was instrumental in spreading a rumour on the blogosphere that the retreat by Sarkozy was to a monastery. My mistake was genuine - I had Sky News on at the time and the information was supplied by their reporter. Perhaps an understandable word association with the idea of this being a “retreat” in the classic Catholic tradition. Nonetheless, the excitement that Sarkozy might well be about to hear voices speak to him within a cloistered and austere cell was far more entertaining for our American friends than a good old-fashioned piece of champagne sharing with a favoured entrepreneur.