‘Now before we get to work, we have some good news. First, I think you’ll be delighted to know that Miss Greenberg’s still life, Silver Plate on Marble, has been accepted by the Royal Dublin Society for inclusion in their December exhibition.’

A spontaneous round of applause spread across the room. There were calls of ‘well done’ and ‘congratulations’. Catherine smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

‘And,’ Lily added, beaming, ‘we have some romantic news. I’ve heard from a little bird, no pun intended, that Mr Swallow is to make the big step into matrimony this week. In fact, he is to marry my sister, Maria. So it’s congratulations all round!’

There was more applause. Somebody clapped Swallow on the back and wished him well. Lily’s face shone with delight. But Catherine Greenberg had gone as pale as chalk. Swallow heard her gasp as she absorbed Lily’s words. Then with knuckled hands clasped in front of her face, she ran to the door and into the corridor outside. Lily looked after her with an expression of mock horror.

‘Oh dear. Poor Miss Greenberg. The shock of having her painting accepted for the RDS exhibition next month must have been too much.’

Chapter 17

Swallow was still in Lily Grant’s painting class when the men from the office of the assistant under-secretary for security arrived at Exchange Court.

Major Kelly led four of them through the front door into the public office, where Pat Mossop was working as duty officer. Another four came through the door that opened into the back of the detective office from the Lower Yard. Mossop looked up from the duty roster he was working on to find Kelly dangling a sheet of official foolscap, topped with the royal coat of arms, in front of his face.

‘Major Kelly, office of the assistant under-secretary for security,’ he barked at Mossop. ‘Your name and rank please.’

If Kelly thought that bawling at the scrawny G-man would intimidate him, he had miscalculated. Mossop yawned lazily, scratched under his armpit and leaned across the counter without rising from the high stool on which he was perched.

‘Was somebody expecting you, Major . . . what did you say the name was? I wasn’t told anything about it.’

Kelly responded with a cold smile.

‘No, you wouldn’t have been told anything about me. Read this please; it’s a warrant to search these premises. My men are armed and they will shoot anyone who resists their lawful authority.’

Mossop affected an air of bewilderment.

‘Oh Jesus, now we’ve never had anything like this here before. Let there be no talk of shooting or the like. Will you let me read that, sir?’