What is Mark Malloch Brown up to?

Further to James’s post, when the prospect of a Darfur deal at the UN was raised on the PM’s plane to Washington nine days ago, I asked British officials this very question: where did the initiative leave Lord Malloch Brown, given that he is responsible for policy on both Africa and the UN? The answer, rather tersely delivered, was that His Lordship would, of course, be ‘involved’. Well, yes. But how ‘involved’? And how publicly? Since Malloch Brown is presently locked in his grace and favour attic, like the first Mrs Rochester, it is impossible to say.