‘I’m afraid we’re not scheduling any new work at the moment, Colin.’ I met his eye, resolving that I wouldn’t be backed into any corners.

‘That’s rubbish.’

‘It’s not, actually. And we lost money on doing the last book for you, you know. By rights we should have charged over a hundred pounds for binding your recipes.’

‘I paid you. What’s wrong with my money?’

I sighed. A typical Colin not-quite sequitur. ‘Nothing. Except that there wasn’t enough of it.’

He pursed his lips and looked cunning. ‘I’m on benefit, you know. I’m not one of your la-di-da types with posh cars and big houses and money to throw around on a lot of nonsense. Oh no. I’m on the sick. Under the doctor, up at Homerton. I have to watch what I spend.’

‘I understand.’

‘Good. So.’ He began shovelling dog-eared magazines out of his carrier bag and as they spilled over the counter I scooped them up and tried to force them back at him.

‘Colin. Listen to me. We can’t do any more for you.’

I thought he hadn’t heard or wouldn’t listen because for several more seconds we continued our tussle. Then suddenly his arms dropped to his sides and magazines slithered off the counter and rippled to the floor. His thick lips parted as he stared at me.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. My voice sounded reedy and was followed by a long silence. I heard a small clink behind me as Andy put down one of his tools.

‘I don’t want there to be any trouble,’ Colin said.

I couldn’t tell from his nasal tone whether he was conciliating or threatening. ‘Of course. Of course not,’ I soothed. ‘Nobody mentioned trouble.’

I became suddenly and acutely aware of how many dangerous instruments surrounded us. There were knives for paring leather and long needles for stitching bindings, and the great curved blade of the guillotine glinted only a metre away. The benches were strewn with hammers and mallets.

My skin prickled. I wanted very much to get Colin out of here. I smiled and put my hand to his elbow. ‘We’ve just got a lot of work on right now and we can’t handle any more even from our best customers. Phew. Isn’t it hot in here? Let’s collect up your things, look, and go outside. We can chat out there, can’t we?’