He was leafing through a work, in French, on ophthalmology, and speculating as to how it had come to be here, when the door from the dining-room opened. He turned, and saw Diana. ‘Well,’ he...

‘You were sent away at eight, too, I suppose?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And enjoyed it?’ ‘I remember crying a bit, the first few nights. After that I enjoyed it.’ ‘Because you had it to go through, it’s...

It was a relief to be in a place where the windows let in all the light, even this meagre mist-filtered light. Douglas glanced at his watch. Half past eleven. The work had taken longer...

The voices started about an hour later. Mandy was the first to hear them. The kitchen window was barred, but she had opened it to clear the cooking smells. She called up the stairs excitedly,...

Marie left the kitchen to get the rest of the things from the dining-room, and there was time – not much, but enough, and without snatching or gulping – to get herself a drink from...

Selby took a deep breath, and raised his glass. ‘Cheers.’ ‘Cheers,’ she said. ‘There’s something funny about being awake when everyone else is asleep. Don’t you think?’ She looked about her. ‘And with this lamp...

Douglas said: ‘Aren’t you taking some things for granted, Selby? You didn’t examine Ruth for temperature and pulse rate – only the boy. She seemed cold, I agree, but she had been outside looking for...