Evelyn gives a sharp nod and stands up quickly. ‘Game on, Norma!’ She puts her hands on her friend’s shoulders and pushes her from the room. ‘Let’s get a shuffle on!’

He follows them out with the tray and goes into the kit chen. From behind a closed bedroom door, he hears the soft slap of hands and the thud of what he takes to be jumping feet. Grinning, he washes and dries the mugs before going back into the lounge.

He goes straight to the alcove to the left of the chimney, where he noticed the skinny spines of Evelyn’s records standing fresh and pristine, even though she will have listened to all of them many times. Of course, they’re meticulously alphabetised, so it takes him less than ten seconds to find what he’s looking for. He lays it on the turntable ready, then sits back down and waits. As soon as he hears a door open, he jumps up, puts the record on and returns to the settee. The sound quality is even better than Martin’s.

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Have mercy on me, O God: according to Your great kindness.

Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.

According to the multitude of Your mercies, do away mine offences.

The door swings open to reveal a younger-looking, elegant Evelyn, in a fitted cream dress with an orange rose pinned to it. There’s a bottle of nail varnish in her hand and her mouth is open ready to say something, but when she hears the music she stops.

‘Sit down, Mum.’ William holds his hand out to her. She gives him the bottle of varnish. It tick-tick-ticks as he shakes it.

Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.

Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.

For I know my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

She sits next to him and their eyes meet briefly before he gently takes her left hand in his. Carefully, he draws the brush, plump and glistening with orange varnish, down the length of the nail. The sound is so good, the choristers may as well be in the room with them.

Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.

Against You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight: that You might be justified in Your saying, and clear when You are judged.

He lays her hand down in her lap and she offers him the other. He feels the tremor in it, the warmth of the blood in her body.

Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.