‘Let me say,’ Miss Sharp added, speaking over the mutters of disbelief and outrage that were spreading through the banking hall, ‘that I’m prepared to offer an amnesty to the petty thief. Perhaps he, or she, is down at heel or has a problem. That doesn’t excuse it, of course. Stealing from a colleague will never be tolerated. His Lordship has been notified.’

She peered at them over the top of her glasses. ‘I will give the person responsible the weekend to consider their actions. If the money reappears, in my desk—’ she slowly opened and closed the top drawer and her eyes moved slowly across everyone’s faces ‘—by eleven o’clock on Monday morning, we’ll say no more about it. And please, can everyone ensure they take better care of their valuables from now on.’

She directed this last comment towards Pam, who looked suitably chastened. Miss Sharp glanced up at the clock on the wall. ‘Jolly good. And now it’s time for tea.’ She marched down the aisle between the desks, head held high.

No one moved or spoke until Ray piped up. ‘Blimey, that was all very Neville Chamberlain, wasn’t it? “By eleven o’clock tomorrow morning …”’ Ray mimed Miss Sharp’s dramatic opening of the desk drawer and, Maggie had to admit, he did rather a good impersonation of her husky voice. But nobody laughed.

As everyone left their desks, Maggie stayed in her seat. She gazed at the paintings in the Gallery, avoiding her colleague’s faces. If they were looking at her with suspicion, she didn’t think she could stand it.

Even the fine ladies in the portraits on the walls looked unfriendly now. How had she not noticed the sneers on their faces before? They were looking down on her, with curled lips and cold stares. She suddenly felt very alone. She wanted to go home.

‘Hey, Maggie! Coming for a cup of char?’ Ray called cheerfully from the end of the Gallery.

It was the first time he’d spoken to her in a friendly tone since their stupid row about the tandem.

Maggie shook her head, without turning round. She knew her voice would crack if she tried to speak.

She expected Ray to carry on without her but, the next moment, he appeared in front of her desk. He leaned on it, with his arms spread and bent, to speak to her.

‘Not fretting, are you?’ he murmured. ‘There are dozens of people in and out of this place every day. Anyone could have taken that money.’ He leaned closer. ‘It mightn’t even be anyone from the bank. Could be Snowden staff.’

Maggie nodded. That was true. There was a hard lump in her throat. She managed a small smile.

‘That’s the ticket,’ he said, straightening up and smiling back ‘Coming for that cuppa, then? Come on, before it gets cold.’