When she came through from the kitchen to the living room carrying a gigantic mug, she found Martin sitting in the comfortable old armchair with crushed springs, where she had been intending to install herself. He was dressed in one of his three mid-grey work suits, a V-necked sweater and a woollen tie. It was a psychological rather than a sartorial outfit, designed to reassure his patients that he was indeed a professional man of a certain age, who dressed respectably without having the slightest interest in expressing himself through his clothes. He was interested in what the patient had to tell him, not in telling them anything about himself. Knowing the range of his wardrobe, Olivia was always impressed by the consummate neutrality of these outfits. She imagined that spies must be taught to dress in a similar way, so that nobody could remember them.

‘Hi, Dad,’ she said, settling down on the sofa opposite him.

‘How are you, darling?’ said Martin.

‘Oh, I’ve just been lolling about,’ said Olivia, ‘and I’m off to see Lucy in a moment.’

‘Dear Lucy,’ said Martin. ‘How is she bearing up?’

‘I’ll know more after dinner,’ said Olivia. ‘She’s being very brave, but there’s no need to be very brave unless you’re very frightened, which of course she is.’

‘Of course,’ said Martin. ‘There’s a limit to the benefits of stoicism. I’m sure it’ll be a great help to her seeing you.’

‘I hope so,’ said Olivia, taking her first gulp of coffee. ‘On the upside, she seems to be on better terms with her boss.’

‘Oh good,’ said Martin, pausing briefly. ‘I’ve been thinking about our joint paper.’

‘I’m on holiday!’ Olivia interrupted him.

‘We could write it at a holiday pace,’ said Martin. ‘I still have to see my patients and I would have to research and write up case studies.’

‘Ah, yes, the anecdotal end of science,’ Olivia teased him.

‘Well,’ said Martin, ‘what is a theory, after all, except an incredibly stable anecdote? And what is a fact, except an incredibly stable theory?’

‘Luckily, I’m about to leave for dinner,’ she said, laughing, ‘and I don’t have to answer that question.’

She got up and kissed her father on the forehead.

‘Goodnight, darling,’ he said. ‘Give my love to Lucy.’

‘I will.’

11