I'm told that David Cameron spoke to a close friend of Liam Fox's last night and assured him that he would do whatever he could to keep the defence secretary in his post.
The prime minister has asked the head of the Civil Service to speed up the inquiry into the working relationship between Doctor Fox and his friend, Adam Werritty, who has business interests in the defence industry.
He had been told in so many words by his old boss and friend Spyros Skouras, president of Twentieth Century Fox, that the company would not employ him unless he satisfied the Committee.
Fox himself said on Sunday that his friend had "defence-related business interests" - which suggests that his trips were paid for not just by ideological supporters but by those with defence interests.
He also found that Mr Fox had facilitated an introduction between his friend and a donor and that donations given to Mr Werritty could be seen to give rise to the perception of a conflict of interest.
With three out of three wins already in the pocket, Richard Fox could not be headed, but on the night he was beaten by his old rival and friend, John Harrington.