‘William Smith? Very well. He’s a good actor. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to him after adolescence. He may not go on with the theatre but I hope he does. He’s doubling.’

‘The Bloody Child?’

‘And the Crowned Child. They’re one and the same. You should hear him wail out his “Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hi-i-ill shall come against him.”’

‘Golly!’

‘Yes, my girl. That’s the word for it.’

‘How are you working the scene? The apparitions?’

‘The usual things. Dry ice. A trap door. A lift. Background of many whispering voices: “Double, double.” Strong rhythm. The show of Kings are all Banquo’s descendants. The scene ends with “And points at them for his.” The next bit in the script is somebody’s incredibly silly addition – I should think the stage manager’s for a fourth-rate company in the sticks. It’s a wonder he didn’t give the witches red noses and slapsticks.’

‘So you go on with – what?’

‘There’s a blackout and great confusion. Crescendo. Noises. Macbeth’s voice. Sounds, possibly drums. I’m not sure. Macbeth’s voice again, strongly, calling: ‘Lennox!’ Sound of footfalls. Lights dim up with Lennox knocking on the door. Macbeth comes out. Rest of scene as written.’

‘Smashing.’

‘Well, I hope so. It’s going to need handling.’

‘Yes. Of course.’

‘It’s the only tricky one left from the staging point of view.’

‘Could Gaston be a help? About witchcraft?’

‘I daren’t risk asking him. He could, of course, but he does so – go off the deep end. He is a teeny bit mad, you know. Only on his own lay, but he is. He’d God’s gift when it comes to claidheamh-mors. What will you think of the fight? It terrifies me.’

‘Is it really dangerous, Perry?’

He waited for a minute.

‘Not according to Gaston, always making sure the stage is right. He’ll keep a nightly watch on it. The two men have reached an absolute perfection of movement. They’re getting on together a bit better, too, man to man. Maggie had a go at Simon, bless her, and he’s less crissy-crossy when they are not fighting, thank God.’

‘Well,’ said Emily, ‘nobody can accuse you of being superstitious, I’ll say that for you.’

‘Will you? And you’ll come next week when we’ll take it in continuity with props?’

‘You bet I will,’ said Emily.