Jane followed him through a door opposite the coffee bar and down a narrow corridor to another door with a light above it.

‘When the light is on red,’ Elliott explained, ‘you don’t enter as there’s a practice or often a competition going on. So you have to wait for clearance.’

Elliott gestured for Jane to go ahead of him and closed the door behind them. She wondered when she was going to get hold of a gun and actually start shooting. He walked her right to the end of the twenty-five-yard range where there were six targets with bullseyes in the center.

‘Right, Jane, we never have the handgun and the rifle sessions at the same time. Right now, the range is set up for rifle shooting. Take a look at the marksman’s astonishing shots from stall two.’ He pointed at the bullseye where she could see six small bullet holes.

‘The club and all members are very security-conscious. You fire a cartridge, you pick it up, and you never leave a gun loaded in the stall. Now, I want you to stand on the cross in the center of the range.’

Jane went and took up the position as instructed. Elliott stood beside her.

‘Now, what I want you to do is put your feet slightly apart so your balance is good. OK?’

‘Yes, I feel balanced.’

‘Good. Now, you are actually facing target three.’

Jane nodded.

‘Are you left- or right-handed?’

‘Right.’

‘OK. Lift your right hand, stretch out your arm and point to the bullseye on target three.’

Jane did as instructed. Feet apart, pointing directly at the bullseye. Elliott stared at her as she still held out her arm, her finger pointing.

‘Good. Now, that is exactly how you fire towards your target. Follow your arm, your hand, then finger pointing to it, then fire. So what we have just learned is balance, eye, target. Now, what I am going to do is show you how you hold your gun.’

Elliott opened his vest and removed a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver from his holster. He released the cylinder catch, opened the cylinder and showed Jane the gun was empty.

‘We only load up when standing in the range-firing cubicle. It’s the same first principle as for shotgun users. So listen carefully to me.’ He looked her in the eye as he spoke.

‘I will, I mean, I am,’ she replied nervously.

‘Never, never let your gun be pointed at anyone. That it may be unloaded matters not the least to me,’ he continued, looking serious.

‘I’ll remember that,’ Jane replied, reciting it in her mind.