"I leave this place feeling much more hopeful than I did when I arrived," Fred declared after three hours of talks with Attila the Hun. He saw no need to elaborate. He saw no need to belabour the point. He would only refer to "sufficient clarifications" during the talks, but a top US official said Attila had provided "some helpful clarifications on a number of important issues that make up the peace trek, and these clarifications were enough for him to have indicated that he leaves the Hun capital feeling much more hopeful than he did when he arrived."

"He also got quite a few postcards to send home and a decorative dagger as a souvenir", added the official.

A statement issued by a Hun spokesman said the Huns "repeatedly stressed", during talks with Fred, that Attila was "not against resuming talks". Attila, the satement said, "is very much in favour of talking, he likes talks, he is ready to plan the next steps, based on what has been achieved in past years." The statement was surprisingly well-written.

Fred declined to say whether he is expecting anything to come of the talks. He stated that he did not know anything. He confessed to impenetrable ignorance. But he reiterated that he remains hopeful.

When pressed for the specific reasons for his optimism, Fred was tightlipped. When asked by journalists if he had had a good time on his visit, he made a curious, revolting noise with his tongue and lips, and then said: "Just kidding".

A European diplomat did not rule out the possibility that some real statesmen might "prenegotiate" the main principles of an agreement before formal negotiations between Fred and Attila the Hun resume. The diplomat added that he does not think very much of rock music, and prefers jazz. He said, "One of my pet peeves? People who ask about the specials in a coffee shop. What could be special in a coffee shop?"