  We have obtained I, J, H and K band light curves of the recurrent nova T CrB.
We find that we can only fit the $J$ band light curve with a Roche-lobe filling
secondary star and a dark spot of radius 11-26 derees (90 per cent confidence)
centred at the inner Lagrangian point. We obtain limits to the binary
inclination of 38-46 degrees (90 per cent confidence) which when combined with
the value for the mass function allows us to determine the mass of the compact
object to be 1.3-2.5 Mo (90 per cent confidence). This mass range is consistent
with the Chandrasekhar limiting white dwarf mass, and so we provide evidence
needed to support the outbursts in recurrent novae in terms of a thermonuclear
runaway process on the surface of a massive 1.4 Mo white dwarf.
