‘It is, if I may say,’ said Madam, ‘a thing of quite extraordinary beauty. Like its owner.’

Up in the driver’s seat, I went all hot and cold. I’ve told you about Madam’s wandering eye. I didn’t like the way this particular interrogation was going.

‘Now the question is,’ murmured Madam, ‘will this exquisite Sphinx allow me to take her to dinner?’

Dinner now, was it?! I fought down an urge to do some violence to the Cripplegate Siren.

‘I don’t know about you,’ purred Madam. ‘But I’m rather … ravenous.’

Anne Dante met Madam’s veiled gaze. Was she tempted? Suddenly she leaned forward, eyes shining.

‘SOZ!’ she boomed. ‘I have to be SOOOO careful. Me voice and that.’

Madam’s face fell. Miss Anne Dante had the voice of an Essex fish-wife. Up top, I burst out laughing.

The Siren continued. ‘Me manager says if I strain it, it could bugger up me chances in the contest so I have to keep me trap shut when I’m not on stage.’ And she laughed, like a braying donkey.

Madam winced. ‘You’re … you’re to sing in front of his Royal Highness, tonight, I understand. When you win the contest?’

‘If I win!’

‘Surely it’s a certainty.’

‘Is it ’ell!’ scoffed Anne. ‘I’m taking nothing for granted, me. All I’ve ever wanted was to be famous. Me Mum told me not to be daft ’cos I couldn’t sing for toffee but—’ She stopped dead and her beautiful face clouded. ‘Actually, you know what? You can just drop me here if you would.’

‘No, no, please,’ urged Madam. ‘Go on. I’m gripped.’

But Anne seemed suddenly to have lost her vim. ‘No. I’d better be sensible. Could you just drop us on the corner?’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it—’

But Anne rapped on the roof of the carriage and I pulled up. ‘Ta for the lift!’

Madam got out of the carriage first and helped Anne down. She took the gal’s hand and kissed it lightly. ‘Well, the very best of luck in the final, my dear.’

‘Cheers!’

‘You’re sure you’ll be all right?’

Anne grinned cheekily and winked. ‘I’m a big girl, love,’ she said and swept off into the night.

Madam stood outside the carriage and I just looked straight ahead – but could feel her eyes on me. She could probably tell I wasn’t best pleased by the thin line what my mouth had become.

‘My dear,’ she said. ‘What is the matter?’

‘Seems like a nice gal,’ I said primly.

‘Very nice – but did you hear her guttersnipe accent?’

‘What’s wrong with a guttersnipe accent?!’ I exploded, hardly able to contain myself. ‘Used to be very pleasant on your ear as I recall.’

Madam swung herself up onto the seat beside me. ‘Jenny, you don’t actually imagine—’