‘Goodness no!’ Matilda sighed again. ‘Now. Let us be clever, make lists and timetables so that you know when to make yourself scarce, where to hide and when you are safe. You must keep out of sight until you have your money and the hunt has died down. Then if you want to move on you can.’

‘If you really mean it. Tell me your daily routine. I can memorize. For the unexpected I can improvise but I am worried about any consequences for you.’

‘I’ve told you,’ Matilda snapped, ‘I’m enjoying it. Don’t you see, you’ve given me something to do. A bit of life, for Christ’s sake. I was bored stiff.’

‘Okay, okay, let’s make a list then. What happens from morning till night.’

Matilda made a list, starting with the postman at the same time each day as she was finishing breakfast so that he could be fairly sure of an offer of tea. ‘I owe it to him. Claud behaved very badly.’

‘Was it first love?’

‘It was for George. Claud’s first love is Claud. He can only hurt himself.’

‘And your first love was Tom?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I am.’ Matilda was overemphatic.

‘There must have been others before him. When you were a child were you not in love?’

‘No.’ Again the emphasis. Hugh waited.

‘There is a rota of postmen. When it’s not George’s turn they come before I am up. I never see them so you won’t have to bother about them.’

‘Okay.’

‘The milk comes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You hear the van, Gus honks, you can keep out of sight. The dustbin men come round Thursdays. You hear them miles away. That’s about all. I do my shopping in the village or the town.’

‘Where we met.’

‘Yes.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Mr Jones. He gives a shout when he’s some way off. He’s nervous of Gus. If I don’t answer he goes away.’

‘Sure?’

‘Yes. Quite often I don’t answer. He can be a bit of a bore.’

‘Made a pass at you?’

Matilda blushed. ‘I’m too old.’ She caught Hugh’s eye. ‘Well, he did, but I took evasive action. One must be kind. He’s got the male menopause, Claud says. Louise said the same thing.’

‘What other neighbours?’

‘Few. They wave as they go by, shout “How are you?” or “It’s a fine day.” Gus keeps them away. Nobody cares to get nipped. Gus will warn you.’

‘What about exercise for me?’

‘I hadn’t thought.’

‘I’ll walk at night.’

‘That would never do. Everyone would know. Dogs would bark. You’d be seen.’

‘I can’t stay cooped up. I’ll go mad.’

‘You’d be cooped up in prison.’

Hugh did not rise to this bait. ‘I’ll play it by ear,’ he said.