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but one ought not to have to think about it. That's why one employs little men like bankers and accountants.'
    'Yes. You certainly need someone around who's good with money.'
    'I suppose so.' Lady Ridgleigh dismissed the idea airily. 'Froggie – my husband – was not good with money.'
    'I was lucky. Mr Pargeter was very good to me. Very generous.'
    Lady Ridgleigh was piqued by the implicit criticism. 'It's not an issue of generosity. Froggie was extraordinarily generous. To a fault, perhaps. Generous to everyone. I suppose that's why he lost all our money.'
    'Couldn't you have stopped him?' asked Mrs Pargeter, appalled at the idea.
    'Good heavens, no. If a man can't lose his own money, what rights does he have?'
    'But weren't you furious?'
    'About the fact that he lost it? Good heavens, no. Mind you, the thought of some of the people he lost it to still rankles.' Lady Ridgleigh turned her head graciously to look at Mrs Pargeter. 'Tell me, what was Mr Pargeter's money in ?'
    Mrs Pargeter coloured. 'Oh, come, come, Lady Ridgleigh, you wouldn't answer if I asked you what Froggie's money was in , would you?'
    'Of course I would. It was quite simple. His was in the family.'
    Mrs Pargeter smiled. 'Well, so's Mr Pargeter's now.'
    At that moment there was a commotion in the Seaview Lounge. Mrs Mendlingham had raised her teapot to pour another cup of tea and suddenly lost control of it. The pot had fallen, catching the edge of her tray, which was not centred on its table, and sending everything flying.
    Mrs Mendlingham rose to her feet, whimpering, though whether she was in pain from the hot tea that stained the front of her grubby skirt, or whether, as the wildness of her eyes suggested, some sudden memory had upset her, it was hard to tell.
    Mrs Pargeter went forward to take her arm, and was once again aware of the acrid smell that emanated from the old lady. This time there was no mistaking; it was stale urine.
    'There. Are you all right?'
    'Yes. Yes, I'm sorry.' The wild, faded eyes tried to focus on Mrs Pargeter's.
    'What's the matter? What's upsetting you?'
    'I just . . . I just remembered something.'
    'What was it?'
    'Well, I saw . . .' But the confidence stopped short. A light of cunning came into the old eyes. 'I'm sorry. My memory's not good these days. It comes and goes, you know.'
    'I think we all find that,' said Mrs Pargeter soothingly, trying to re-establish the confessional intimacy.
    'But it seems to be getting worse. Sometimes I completely forget what I've done, can't remember if I've eaten meals or . . .'
    'Don't worry about it. Worrying just makes it worse.'
    'I've tried all kinds of things to make it better. Trying to concentrate, talk to people about things. At one stage I tried just writing down everything that happened.'
    'A sort of diary?'
    Mrs Mendlingham nodded.
    'That sounds a good idea. Do you still keep it?'
    Again the shutter of cunning seemed to flick across the old eyes. 'Oh, no. Not any more. I've given that up. It didn't work.'
    'I'm surprised. Still, never mind.'
    'No.'
    Mrs Pargeter had by now manoeuvred the old lady back into her armchair. 'Can you remember what it was that frightened you? Do you want to talk about it?'
    The old head was shaken vigorously. 'I can't remember. It comes and goes, the memory. Sometimes things are very clear, and sometimes I just can't remember what I've done. There are great big blanks in my life. Great . . . big . . . blanks.' She lingered over the words, then, again suddenly devious, added, 'Which is perhaps just as well.'
    Further conversation was halted by the majestic entry of Miss Naismith from the hall. 'I heard a noise,' she announced, and moved across to stand accusingly over the wreckage of Mrs Mendlingham's tea.
    'An unfortunate accident,' said Mrs Pargeter in a conciliatory tone.
    'Yes,' Miss Naismith agreed frostily.
    Mrs Mendlingham shrank into her armchair, avoiding the proprietress's eye.
    Mrs Pargeter continued to mediate. 'Mrs Mendlingham suddenly