‘Fortunately I’ve taken out insurance. At the beginning I could ill afford to pay the premiums,’ he gave a gentle shake of his head, ‘but my wife insisted. She was a most astute woman; took after her father. I’m so glad that I did.’

‘Was her father a businessman?’ Ellen asked.

He looked up as if in surprise. ‘Indeed he was. He it was that began the company in the first place. He was the original Tannerson and he gave me my first proper job of work in England; when I asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage a few years later, he welcomed me with open arms into the family and said I was the son he’d always wanted.’ He gave a grin. ‘When he died and left the business jointly to his daughter and me I changed my name to Tannerson and became the Son in the business.’ He nodded blithely. ‘You know, Mrs Randell, I haven’t spoken of this in years, but you have such a way of drawing out people’s confidences.’

Ellen was astonished to hear this. She had hardly said a word.

‘My wife was a majority shareholder, so of course when she too died everything fell on my shoulders. She was very good with the administration, whereas I am not. I’m a practical man, good with my hands and ideas.’ He laughed. ‘The Irish never leaves you, you know. I’m a proper Murphy, happy with a spade over my shoulder.’

He took another sip of coffee, then pushed his cup and saucer to one side and looked at her seriously. ‘But I must stop rambling on and explain why I came here today. It was Dr Lucan’s idea. I don’t know whether you are acquainted with his wife?’ When Ellen shook her head, he went on, ‘She’s a lovely woman, from country stock; has great business acumen even though she is still quite young. She runs both a successful hotel in Hull and several other properties, and has put her name to a very worthwhile project of renting these properties at reasonable rates to those who through no fault of their own have fallen on difficult times.’

‘And how are you involved, Mr Tannerson?’ Ellen still didn’t understand where the conversation was going.

‘I’ve, erm, put some money into the project.’ He seemed reluctant to say more, but added, ‘When your husband was injured, I told Dr Lucan that he and your family had only been in Hull for a few months, having come from the country to look for work, and were having difficulties. I said that I would recommend you as tenants. He in turn then told his wife.’

‘I see,’ she said cautiously. ‘It isn’t … erm, it’s not charity, is it?’