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One can combine truthfulness in one’s private life with dishonesty in one’s business.’
    ‘I still don’t believe you’re dishonest,’ she said stubbornly.
    ‘Well, I grant I’m no more dishonest than hundreds of men who pass for honest. But they’re luckier – or shrewder than I’ve been. Now listen: if you don’t notify the police you’ve seen me, you’d better not admit it, later, for your own sake. There shouldn’t be any need to. I’m pretty sure no one saw me come here. I haven’t been into the village. I’m driving a hired car – I sold mine to raise some more cash – and I’ve been wearing an atrocious and disguising cap, well pulled down over the eyes. In any case, I might have slipped in and out without your knowing.’
    ‘But your children will know – if I’m to tell them. Suppose the police question them?’
    His manner had become brisker; now it was strained again. ‘I’m sorry – I can’t think clearly. You must work itout for yourselves, without considering me. Anyway, you’re not likely to be questioned before tomorrow, by which time I shall be out of the country – or have been stopped getting out. In either case it won’t matter to me what you all say, so suit yourselves. Now I must go. Thank you for your kindness. If we’d worked together for twenty years you couldn’t have been more loyal.’
    She said: ‘I’m quite sure my loyalty’s justified.’
    ‘Not a bit of it. You’re a generous creature taken in by a shady character. You’ll learn that soon enough. Keep your eyes on the newspapers – oh, not the front pages; I’m quite insignificant but there should be something somewhere. Anyway, there will be if I’m arrested. If you don’t learn of that by tomorrow I shall have got away. Oh, lord, there are so many things I meant to tell Richard. About Merry: he’d better let her try the stage as soon as she can; she’s the only one whose talent I’m sure of. Not that I know any of them well. You must think me a hell of a father.’
    ‘I’m sure you’ve been a kind and generous one.’
    ‘There’s more to the job than that. My wife and I cared too much for each other to care enough for our children. My mother was wonderful with them, but I should have done more these last years since she died.’ He opened the door. ‘Goodbye, dear Miss Minton – Jane Minton, isn’t it?’
    She nodded and said firmly: ‘You’ll come back. Everything will come right.’
    ‘I doubt that – really.’ He made sure the lane was deserted, then ran down the stairs.
    ‘Goodbye! Good luck!’ she called after him.
    He reached the car, turned it, then leaned out and waved to her. She waved in return. The car shot forward. She watched until it disappeared round the bend of the lane.

3
Tuesday – Wednesday
    Sitting on the divan in the dim music room, she asked herself how she could best break the news to the young Carringtons, how best advise them, help them; but again and again she failed to concentrate and, instead, found herself reliving Rupert Carrington’s visit, and trying to understand her own astonishing reactions.
    During her fifteen years as a secretary she had several times been attracted by her employers and some of them had been attracted by her, but the attractions had never coincided and, on her side certainly, had been so mild that she had merely chaffed herself about them – lacking the woman friend who by rights should have done the chaffing. Never had she really fallen in love and she had begun to think she never would. But now—
    Time after time she pulled herself up. One couldn’t fall in love with a man one had only met twice, anyway a woman of her type and age couldn’t. It must simply be that she was attracted – as she had been, even at their first meeting – and now the unusual circumstances, her sympathy for him, his appeal for her help, all were combining to heighten her emotions. She mustn’t let this … this