She smiled. ‘Have I embarrassed you?’

‘No. Not at all.’

‘I’m amazed I can still remember the lines! Well, some of them anyway. I was barely eighteen years old, can you imagine? And I received some very good notices. I thought the whole world lay before me.’

‘So that would be, what? Nineteen …?’

‘1953. Late in the year.’

‘I see. And that was when you met Mr Graves?’

‘It was during the run of Cymbeline, actually. I was living on my own at that time, in a lodging house for young ladies on Wick Lane. I had a job in a corner shop, which supported me as I learned my craft, and auditioned for parts. But I was quite alone, and quite poor. I had few close friends in those days. Such things never came easily to me.’

‘Have you always been a loner?’

‘If that’s the word you want to use, then, yes, I suppose so.’

‘But you’ve been married?’

A shake of her head. Regret in her eyes.

Hobbes couldn’t help looking to the mantelpiece, with its row of photographs. And she saw him doing this. Perhaps a certain look was on his face.

‘Shall I ask you to leave?’

‘Mrs … sorry, Miss Watts, I’m only concerned about the Graves family, and anything you can tell me about them. That’s all.’

‘Only, I don’t like being treated with disrespect.’ That smile came back, her mouth working hard against its defect.

‘Of course. I never meant to—’

‘If we understand each other?’

He nodded. ‘Will you tell me about Leonard Graves, and how he found you?’

With some relief, she answered his question. ‘One of his representatives was in the audience one night, and a few days later I was called into his office.’ She thought for a moment. ‘A couple of rooms on Berwick Street, upstairs, above a Greek restaurant. I didn’t have a clue what I was stepping into.’

‘And?’

‘Oh, I could hardly speak! He, and his casting director, wanted me to read for Anna Kreeley.’

‘The main character from The Moon Awakes?’

She nodded. ‘It was incredible. Such a wonderful chance.’

‘Did you know the play?’

‘I’d never seen it performed, but I’d read reviews in old copies of the Stage, and the playscript a few times.’

‘It was Mary Estelle Graves’s first big role?’

‘It was. It made her a star. And I felt I was stepping into her shoes. Not that I could ever … well, I mean … the very thought!’

‘Jeannie, can I speak freely with you?’

A little fret of worry played around her eyes. ‘Of course.’

‘Why do you think Leonard offered you the part?’

‘Why? I don’t know what you mean. Because of my acting talent, of course.’

‘For no other reason?’

‘What other reason could there be?’

‘Your looks.’

She stared at him. Her expression had changed, the polite exterior wavering a little. ‘I hope you’re not implying …’

‘I’m saying that when you were young you did bear a resemblance to Mary Estelle when she herself was young.’