‘No, darling. I’d rather not be loved at all than by just anybody. Can you imagine what it would be like to be loved for example by … by …’

She looks round for a likely person, letting her gaze wander over the vista ahead. After scanning the horizon her eyes fall on the two gleaming metal buttons on the coachman’s back: ‘Well … by my coachman,’ she laughingly concludes.

Madame Margot gives a weak smile and declares, sotto voce: ‘Do you know, it’s really rather fun to have one of your servants in love with you. It’s happened to me more than once. They make such eyes at you, my dear, it’s too killing! The keener they are, of course, the more distant you have to be. In the end, naturally, you have to find some reason to send them away. I mean it would be too frightful if anyone were to suspect.’

Madame Simone listens, looking straight ahead, then announces: ‘Well I wouldn’t like it, I can assure you. Having my footman in love with me wouldn’t seem like much of a conquest. Anyway, how can you tell?’

‘Same as with other men. They just go a bit daft.’

‘I don’t think they’re daft when they’re in love with me – other men, I mean …’

‘Completely potty, my dear. They can’t think of a thing to say. Can’t take a thing in.’

‘But what about you? How did you feel when you had a servant in love with you? Touched? Flattered … or what?’

‘Touched, no. Flattered, yes, a little. One is always flattered by a man’s love, whoever it is, don’t you think?’

‘Oh, Margot! Really!’

‘Oh yes you are, you know! Listen, I must tell you. The strangest thing happened to me once. You’ll see how weird and confused you can feel when something like that happens.’

‘Four years ago this autumn I found myself without a personal maid. I’d tried five or six in succession and they were all hopeless. I was beginning to think I’d never find one, when I read this advertisement in a magazine. A young woman who could sew, embroider and do hairdressing was looking for a job. She could provide the highest references. On top of all that, she could speak English.