‘David,’ she said. ‘He asked if you were here.’

‘What does he want?’

‘He asked if he could come and have coffee with us.’

Her hands, as though automatically, went to her dress and fastened the remaining button.

‘Damn him,’ Andrew said. ‘Damn him to hell and back. Why did you say yes?’

‘I’m sorry.’ She spread her hands. ‘What else could I do?’

‘How long before he gets here?’

‘A few minutes. He was calling from South Ken station. Please be nice, Andy. I won’t let him stay long.’

‘No. But from one particular point of view, it makes no difference now whether he goes in a quarter of an hour or stays all day. Does it?’

‘We were being silly,’ Madeleine said. ‘Both of us.’