‘Anne?’

‘Yes?’

‘Why did you try to get rid of Boudu?’

‘What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything to your cat. He just went off.’

‘There’s a pillowcase missing from the cupboard.’

‘So? Talk to the chambermaid.’

‘Fine. Be like that – but I know it was you.’

‘You’re really starting to piss me off, you know. And that cat, always hanging around like a bad smell. And purring. Anyway, are you playing?’

Marc laid down his last card, the king of spades.

‘Ace of hearts, I win!’

How lost the little red heart looked in the middle of the white rectangle. Anne lit a cigarette and stood before the window, whose glass was thickly tarred by the dark and rainy sky.

‘You know you’re really bored when you’re playing War at six in the evening. Everything’s boring in this place. I’d have been better off staying at the hospital.’

‘I’ll take you back tomorrow if you like.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m sorry … I would have liked … to do something fun with you. Bringing you to Le Touquet at this time of year was never a good idea.’

‘It’s OK. You always were rubbish at presents.’

‘True. I’ve never had a clue. Tell me what you’d like. If I can …’

‘Désiré.’

‘Désiré … the barman?’

‘Yes.’

‘I think that’s beyond me.’

‘Like hell it is! Slip him a grand and he’ll soon come round.’

‘Anne, you can’t just buy people like that.’

‘Haven’t you ever hired a prostitute?’

‘No, never.’

‘Well then, what do you know?’

‘Yes, but this boy isn’t a prostitute, he—’

‘Wanna bet?’

‘Anne, ask me whatever you want, but …’

‘Forget it. You can take me back tomorrow and we’ll never mention this again.’

Anne flopped back onto the bed, lifted up Boudu, who was sleeping on the pillow, and moved his front legs into various positions like some parody of a gymnastic routine. The cat, limp, eyes half shut, was so out of it he did not attempt to put up a fight.

‘He’s such a wuss, this big stupid cat, you can do whatever you like with him. He’s realised the easiest thing is to say yes to everything.’

Of course she had been taking the piss with the Désiré suggestion, but Marc felt frustrated not to be able to offer her anything besides the frivolous pleasures of clothes, haircuts and restaurant meals, which left nothing behind them but a feeling of deep ennui. He had been the one who suggested this trip – she had not asked him to do anything. Of the two of them, it was probably he who was most keenly aware of the void he had opened by taking them on this break.

‘Anne, I’m going downstairs for a bit.’

‘Yep. See you later.’

There was just one couple at the bar drinking multicoloured cocktails and gazing mournfully at the empty restaurant. Since he had nothing better to do, Désiré was keeping himself busy polishing glasses that didn’t need polishing. Seeing Marc, he dropped the act and came over, smiling.