‘It is odd that you should mention an owl,’ she said. ‘I was about to go to bed, when I was disturbed by a great clattering at the window. I looked out, but only saw an owl flying away. I glanced down and there were your white gloves. You had left them behind on the sideboard. I had an odd fancy to return them to you. Nothing bold, I was merely going to post them through your letter box, with a note about seeing you tomorrow. When I got here, the door was open and you know the rest.’

‘Do I?’ Smith smiled gently. ‘I’m very confused. I seem to have been dreaming, but I don’t quite know where the dream ended and waking up began.’ They talked for an hour or so more, and gradually Smith began to feel stronger, the fear of his attack draining from him and reality reasserting itself.

‘Do you want me to stay?’ Joan asked. ‘I am capable of sleeping on a chair.’

Smith bit his lip and a slow grin chased the chill from his face. ‘No,’ he decided finally. ‘You get home to bed.’

‘All right,’ said Joan. She got up and quickly kissed him. ‘Bolt the door behind me.’

‘Will I see you tomorrow?’

‘That was the plan, but since you are now injured⁠ —’

‘I can’t think of a better cure than looking at you. What’ll we do?’

‘I shall make a picnic. We’ll go along to the police station and then find some quiet spot to eat it, hopefully out of the range of poison gas.’ She stopped on the way to the door. ‘Oh my goodness, how will we know if our spot is safe?’

‘Anywhere that birds still sing,’ said Smith, ‘one can have a picnic safely.’

Chapter Six

A Deal with God

Alexander knocked on the door of the bathroom. ‘Bernice, have you drowned?’

There came a satisfyingly loud splash from inside and then a tired mutter: ‘Fell asleep. What time is it?’

‘Nearly midnight. I’ve made up the back bedroom for you. Would you care for a cup of cocoa or perhaps some Scotch?’

‘A double, thanks. I’ll be out in a minute.’ When she came out, white, soggy and wrapped in a rather good silk kimono that Alexander had given her, he was waiting in the parlour with two glasses and a bottle.

She poured and they clinked glasses. ‘So, may I ask as to the nature of your current troubles?’ Alexander began, rolling the whisky around his mouth. ‘You’re proving to be a most exciting tenant. You are not, I take it, actually down from college?’

‘No,’ Bernice admitted. ‘I’m not. Do you want the vague, generalized, believable version, or the absolutely ridiculous specific one?’