But I got the feeling that something was upsetting him.

I was on my way back to Chichester when I remembered a call I hadn’t made. I stopped in a layby and keyed in the number.

‘Hello?’

The word had a questioning tone. I immediately recognized the voice from the message left over the weekend.

‘Mr Finch, it’s Ellen Curtis of SpaceWoman. Returning your call.’

‘Oh, thank you very much for getting back to me.’ He somehow sounded surprised that I had.

There was a silence. ‘So, how can I help you?’ I prompted.

‘Ah. Well. Yes. The fact is … I gather you help people who’ve sort of … let things get on top of them. That is … I meant literal things, objects, stuff. I didn’t mean letting “things get on top of them” in the emotional sense.’

I could have told him that very often the two came together, but it wasn’t the moment. ‘You’re right. That’s what I do. “Decluttering and Interior Restyling” it says on my card.’

‘Yes, yes, I saw that.’

‘Sorry, do you mind if I ask where you saw it?’ It’s important that I know where I’m getting enquiries from. ‘Online?’

‘Oh, no, no,’ he said in a tone confirming my earlier impression that he wasn’t at the sharp end of modern technology. ‘No, a friend looked up the listings or whatever you call them. In a newspaper, I assume. And she recommended you because you were local.’

‘Right. So, do you mind if I ask where you are based?’

‘I’m in Lancing. I have a bungalow in Lancing.’ No surprise. Bungalows are spread like a rash along the South Coast.

‘Not too far away,’ I said. ‘That’s fine.’

Another silence required a further prompt from me. ‘And you’re finding you’re rather drowning in stuff … is that the problem?’

‘Exactly that. “Drowning in stuff” – very apposite, a very good way of putting it.’

‘Well, maybe I should come and have a look at your place, see what I can do to help you?’

‘Oh, would you be prepared to do that?’ He sounded surprised.

‘That’s what my job is,’ I said. ‘And, incidentally, you won’t be charged anything for the first visit.’

‘That’s very kind,’ he said, again surprised.

‘Well, let’s get the details, where you are and when it would be convenient to come and visit you.’

I had been promising myself that I would catch up with sending out some invoices that afternoon, just ahead of my accountant badgering me about it. But I’d always rather be out doing the practical part of the job than the paperwork, so we fixed that I’d go to Edward Finch’s place at two.

As we were nearing the end of the call, I asked, ‘Is this problem of clutter something you’ve been dealing with for a long time?’

‘Well,’ he replied, ‘I’ve never been the tidiest of people, but … I think things have got a lot worse since my wife died.’