Mary smiled and rang the bell. Celeste appeared and escorted me up two flights of stairs. It was an attic room like the one in Montmartre, with French doors opening onto a balcony, but much more cozily and elegantly furnished with blue and white wallpaper and a blue and white chenille bedspread and curtains. The crib had been assembled in the far corner, and looked most inviting with lace pillows. I put Liam down. His thumb came into his mouth and he was asleep straight away. I went over and opened the French windows, stepping out onto the narrow balcony. The street below was quiet, apart from the distant sound of a horse’s hoofs moving at a fast trot as it pulled a light carriage or a cab. The sky beyond the rooftops held the last lingering glow of red and etched in black against that sky the Eiffel Tower rose. Seen close like this it was an awe-inspiring sight. It reminded me that whatever was happening, whatever difficulties we might be facing, we were, after all, in Paris.

If they could see me now in Ireland, I thought, and then I remembered that other disturbing fact. One person who knew me from Ireland, who wanted my destruction, was also here in this city. Thus sobered I sat at the little writing desk and wrote to Daniel, telling him that I would be staying for a while at the charming residence of the painter Mary Cassatt and that all was well with Liam and me. I had already enjoyed meeting interesting artists and poets and could see the Eiffel Tower from my window. When I read it through it sounded quite jolly. I just hoped that he was safe and well and the message would cheer him up. I sealed the envelope then went down to join the others.

In spite of everything we spent a pleasant evening together. Mary was careful to make sure that the drapes were closed before Sid and Gus came into the salon at the front of the house. “I think that policeman just wanted to question other American painters for details of Bryce’s life,” Mary said, “but one can’t be too sure. He may have come here on a tip and wanted to observe my reaction.”

“We were scared stiff when he stayed so long, weren’t we, Sid?” Gus said. “I suggested we hide in the wardrobe, just in case he decided to come looking for us.”

“But I said there wasn’t much point. Our belongings were all over the room, which might have given away our presence if he decided to come up and look.”