‘You’re a smart one, Sally, and no mistake. I suppose this is from a few snatched words you might have overheard while we were together in the car, no?’

Sally shrugged.

‘Clever old Sal. You worked out a bit of the story. But certainly not the whole picture.’

‘So you’re not responsible for her, erm, current situation?’

Eggy gave a little snort. ‘God, no. I’m far too old for all that baby malarkey.’ He sighed a sigh which came right up from his feet and through him. ‘I do my best in life. Or try to. Looking after that poor little girl was my third errand, dispatched from the hospital bed.’

‘Not Dermott? Dermott was the father?’

Eggy nodded.

Sally could barely breathe as Eggy continued.

‘Phoo was right to be nervous. Dermott really was seeing someone else. It had been going on a few years. Not only that, but the someone was young enough to be his granddaughter. Hers too. I suppose the old dog thought it would give him an edge in the TV world, get him that longed-for film role which would let him be someone other than Paddy in the eyes of the public.’

‘But the baby? God, Eggy. These are consequences that will last a lifetime . . .’

‘As I said, Dermott was very careful when writing his will and testament. He had to preserve his precious reputation: Paddy the family man, the Irish darling with the heart of gold, the scally who upheld old-fashioned values. So, naturally, he made absolutely no provision at all for the forthcoming arrival. Poor girl. I gave her a bit of money. Not nearly enough. And I’ve offered to help wherever I could. She in turn tried to help me out by getting me this film. Even if I was only the last-minute standby!’

‘She didn’t cast Phoo, though?’

‘Oh, she knows all about Phoo and Dermott. When Dermott was with her Phoo regularly made abusive calls to him, calling her – the unknown mystery woman who had stolen him away – every vile name under the sun.’

Eggy wrung his hands then polished off his cup of tea. What more was there to say?

Reeling from the convolutions of the whole saga, Sally decided to change the subject. Tonight’s filming would be their last scene together. The final shoot for both of them.

‘Ah well, Eggy,’ she said. ‘Thanks for letting me know all this. I shall think of Phoo in quite a different way now.’

‘Thanks for that, darling.’

‘And now . . .’ Sally stood up. ‘I suppose we’d better start preparing for tonight. I hear Marina Martel is already down here on the Côte d’Azur, ensconced in her hotel in Monte Carlo. Perhaps she’ll turn up on set today.’

‘I hope not. Not today.’ Eggy winced. ‘Will you be taking an afternoon nap, Salz, before the rigours of tonight?’

Sally nodded.