‘But I have to say I’m a great believer in instinct. Gut reaction. It let me down this time, but it doesn’t often,’ mused the policeman. ‘But then, being a doctor, I suppose you’ve no time for that sort of thing?’

Christopher pushed away the cup of tea and stood up. ‘Oh, I have. I don’t think that the occasional mistake like this one should get in the way of your true inner feelings. They don’t let you down very often, and sometimes, officer, you just have to take risks, don’t you? What sort of life would it be if we played safe the whole time?’

Christopher tapped on the door. There was no reply. Then he heard a lot of muttering and the bolts were slid back on the inside. The door opened to reveal Luisa Bassani.

‘Doctor Devon! What you doing here? I back on Monday.’

‘Hello, Mrs Bassani. Yes. Yes, I know. I was just wondering if Maria was in?’

‘No. She not in. She out. She go to cathedral to do flowers.’

‘She…? Oh! I had no idea she did the flowers.’

Luisa looked at her watch. ‘She always good at–how you say–arranging? If you go you maybe catch her.’

‘Fine. Yes. Yes, I’ll do that.’ He backed down the narrow gravel path and walked quickly down the street, lest Mrs Bassani should detain him further.

He was crossing the cathedral close when he saw the familiar figure walking towards him.

Maria did not notice him at first. She seemed to be in a world of her own. She almost walked right into him when he said, ‘Hello!’

She looked up, squinting in the late shafts of spring sunshine and shielding her eyes in order to see. ‘Oh! Christopher. Hello!’ She hesitated. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I came looking for you.’

‘But my mother is back. She’ll be cleaning for you from next week. I thought I left a note?’

‘Yes, you did. But I wanted to give you this, anyway.’ He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.

‘What is it?’

‘Open it and see.’

Maria looked confused, but she tore at the flap and pulled out the letter inside. She opened it and read the words:

Dear Maria,

It is with great regret that I have to terminate your employment as of today. However, I was wondering if there would be the faintest possibility that our relationship might continue on a less businesslike footing. Should you be able to see your way to carrying on being in my company even more frequently than you have been to date, with a view to a more permanent relationship, I would be most grateful. This is not something I ask without a great deal of forethought. Neither is it something that I take lightly. Unless, of course, you would prefer that I did so.