‘Ah yes. Yes. You are surprised? Sunday, I am not at the hotel at seven o’clock on Sunday. Can I help you?’

‘The canvases …’

‘Yes. You would like them to be collected already?’

‘Tomorrow? Or Tuesday? I have builders who can come to me on Wednesday, but if I lose them they can’t come again until after August. The holidays and some other engagements.’

‘It’s very short notice.’ He sounded preoccupied, almost vague, as if I had awakened him suddenly.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I’ll try. Try to get a truck tomorrow.’ His voice was uncertain.

‘In the afternoon, if you will. I have beds being delivered in the morning?’

He was silent, considering.

‘Ah. Then let us make it Tuesday definitely. Tuesday morning. Will that suit your arrangements?’

‘Admirably. About ten? There is a lot of carrying up and down, they will have assistance?’

‘Naturally. They are experts in moving works of art.’

‘Fine. Tuesday then.’

‘They will be there. The driver, M’sieur Hubert, knows the way quite well.’

‘Until then.’

‘I will not be able to get there. It is a very difficult time for me here, but Hubert is very capable, you will see.’

‘I’m sorry. Some other time then?’

‘Some other time. Goodbye.’ He hung up briskly.

And that’s how it was on Sunday evening.

Chapter 14

The beds arrived just before noon on Monday morning. I felt vague surprise. But there they were, standing nakedly in the two bare rooms, pillows in plastic envelopes, plus sheets. Blankets folded neatly on top.

The two elderly men who had carted everything upstairs joined me in the long room for a beer, and signatures on this and that, and idle conversation about the state of the olives (unpruned for too long), the roses (neglected and left to make bad wood), the vine (a ruin, all leaf and no blossom).

Their self-satisfied gloom and sourness permeated the air like an odour. When I asked if they knew of anyone who could come to help, for a reasonable fee, once or twice a week, they only said that labour was hard to come by and that every local man had his own olives, roses and vines. Their time was fully occupied, but if I went to a firm they would charge me a fortune. So?