Patrick took a drink from his mug. “Okay then. Well, you’re right, I was a lecturer—in marine biology at Plymouth University. The department there also used to carry out research projects for fish farming businesses and the like, and that was how I first came across Seascape. But anyway, that part of the story is quite a bit down the line. What really happened first was that an old mate of mine from London came down to stay with us for the weekend. He was running a successful wholesale business, supplying fresh fish and scallops and the like to restaurants throughout the West End, and he just happened to mention that he was on his way down to Penzance to find a new buyer.” He paused to take another gulp of tea. “Anyway, all the students were away on holiday at the time and there was no ongoing research in the department, so I asked him what it entailed. He said that it was pretty simple. One just had to go into the buying shed and buy the right quality at the right price.” He looked over to Katie who was watching Sooty busily colour in a picture on a large piece of paper that she had spread out on the floor in front of the Rayburn. “It was just twice a week, wasn’t it, Kate?”

Katie looked over and nodded.

“So I asked him if there was any reason why I shouldn’t be able to do it. He wasn’t too sure to begin with, because he was concerned that once the university started up again, I wouldn’t have the time. Anyway, I suggested that if he paid for my fuel, I’d work without commission for the duration of the holidays, and then if it didn’t work out or I proved completely inept at the job, he hadn’t lost out too much. So, at about four-thirty on the Monday morning, we both headed down to Penzance. We did a bit of buying and—well, if you’ll excuse the horrible pun—I got hooked.”

“So you did continue doing it?”

“Yes. It all worked in very well. Just before the beginning of the next semester, I juggled around with the timetable and made sure that I wasn’t giving lectures on the mornings that I went off buying.”

“How long did you do that for?”

“Oh, now,” Patrick drawled, scratching at the unshaven stubble on his chin, “I took over Seascape in ‘ninety-one, so . . . maybe, two years?”

“And then Seascape came on the market.”