It was unreeling in his mind – an old cinematographic film, torn, stained, faded, but fresh and immediate for all that. For a moment he was afraid of it. But the recollection was private; it...

‘Tragedy isn’t a twentieth-century invention,’ Hibson said. ‘Think of your ’Fifteen and ’Forty-Five. There must have been hundreds of women who lost a husband in one and a son in the next. You won’t leave...

Irina drove in silence as far as the main road. While waiting to turn right, she said: ‘Mademoiselle Limier is nice, isn’t she?’ ‘As far as I could judge.’ ‘And Andrew Tilling.’ It was a...

‘Will you not drink some coffee?’ ‘Yes,’ Hibson said, ‘I think I will.’ He went to the table and poured himself a cup. ‘Thank you for bringing it up. I suppose you will have a...

‘I like things to be out in the open, Charles. To me, it’s the only basis for human relationships. You could have told me if you’d not wanted us to get in touch with your...

‘We’ve talked enough about me.’ She sat down on the couch and patted a cushion for Hibson to sit beside her. ‘What about you? Still chasing the girls, I hear. An air hostess this time,...

‘What will you drink? Polish vodka? That is the true vodka, you know – the Russian is inferior stuff.’ ‘Very brave of you to say that,’ Tilling said. ‘It’s a bit strong for me, though.’...

Irina’s voice said: ‘I’ll be with you in a moment.’ There was an undeniable erotic effect, Hibson knew, in being alone with a woman in a place deserted by all the others who would usually...

He put his hand towards her face. She stood quite still. He saw now that there was an old scar on her forehead, just above her left eyebrow. ‘Lugeing down from Sonloup,’ he said. ‘A...

They had lunch in a little café in the Place Trois Perdrix. It was dark outside, with low grey clouds coming in from the Rhône valley, and the lights were on. All round them on...