The key to my house here. You have never seen it, don’t know of it, but it has been my refuge, my sanctuary and my life-work (if one can say that) for the last few years. It’s rented with three more years to go, all paid in advance. I send you the key because it is now yours, I no longer have need of it, I’m leaving shortly. If you want some years of delight come and get it, but don’t come looking for me because you’ll never find me, I’m not about any longer, or won’t be by the time this falls on your front doormat.

I shall have drifted into the blue, as they say, leaving no trace behind me. Not a sudden impulse; a thought-out determined action. All I touch seems to turn to dross – my work, my love, my life – so before I take the road to sweet oblivion I will mail this to you and leave you to do fit as you see it.

I have no will, this bit of paper will have to suffice, and if the lawyers grumble and fuss tell them to bugger off. This is my last will and testament. I am of sound mind and in good health; just got weary of it all.

Show this to my landlord (lady, rather), Mme Sidonie Prideaux, 11 rue Émile Zola, Bargemon-sur-Yves. She’ll be fair, she’s all paid up. Sad we never really knew each other; but life is like that and the twelve years’ difference in our ages didn’t help much, did it? You are all that is left of the family, so I leave what I have, not much (nothing in the bank either), to you. Blood is thicker etc., etc. … I had a poor innings, but they tell me that the runt of the family usually does. And runt I was!

Goodbye,
James.

He had signed it James Caldicott, officially, presumably for the legal business.

I let it fall against my coffee mug with the Mucha print. Stared out into the hallway, heard Annie hurrying down the stairs, Helen behind her.

‘You haven’t done my eggs!’

‘No. But I’ve done my face. I’ll do your eggs while you eat the cornflakes.’

They clattered into the kitchen. ‘And some barley-water for poor Giles …’

The door slammed and cut off the wearisome conversation. I stacked the two mugs, the yoghurt pot and the jam on to the tray to give myself time to think before Helen would return, as she was bound to do.