TO REWARD MMA MAKUTSI for her success, Mma Ramotswe gave her the rest of the day off.

“You have worked very hard,” she said to her assistant. “Now you can go and spend the bonus I am going to give you.”

Mma Makutsi could not hide her surprise. No mention had ever been made of bonuses, but she had heard people who worked for large companies talk about them.

“Yes,” said Mma Ramotswe, smiling, and reaching for the cash box which she kept in the top drawer of her desk. “We shall get a very good fee for this Zambian work. I think that it will be about ten thousand pula altogether.” She paused, watching the effect of her words on Mma Makutsi. “So your bonus will be twenty-five per cent of that, which is …”

“Two thousand five hundred pula,” said Mma Makutsi quickly.

“That much?” said Mma Ramotswe absent-mindedly. “Well, yes, I suppose it will be two thousand five hundred pula. Of course you’ll have to wait until we’re paid before you get all of that, but here is five hundred pula to be going on with.”

Mma Makutsi accepted the notes gratefully and tucked them into the top of her blouse. She had already decided what she would do with her bonus, or this portion of it, and it seemed to her that this was exactly the time to do it. She looked down at her shoes, her work shoes, and shook a finger at them.

“More new shoes?” asked Mma Ramotswe, smiling.

“Yes,” said Mma Makutsi. “New shoes and some new handkerchiefs.”