‘We need a bit of Irish, really. Hugo’s rather posh, isn’t he?’

‘We’ll think of someone. Rupert can do a brogue, if drunk. He does have Irish blood.’

Laura made a note. ‘Rupert, drunk, to read selections of Irish literature. L to make selection. That sounds great! Not!’

‘It will be great. Monica’s boyfriend’s band will be lovely. We’ll give everyone free beer, it’ll go down a treat.’

‘Well, bang goes your profit straightaway. And is Monica’s boyfriend’s band lovely?’

‘It’s not all about making money. And I expect so! Monica still hasn’t managed to hear them. She’s getting a bit anxious about it.’

‘Fantastic! A mediocre band plays while Rupert puts on a fake accent and reads out bits of Ulysses. I can’t wait.’

Fenella laughed. ‘You don’t have to choose Ulysses. You can have funny pieces and Rupert will do it in his own voice. As for the band, why don’t you go and hear them? Monica would be thrilled. She rang last night, by the way, wanting to hear how you got on in Ireland. I said you’d gone to bed, exhausted. She seemed to find that quite funny. Anyway, she mentioned Seamus having a gig she can get to at last. She and Grant are going. Give her a ring and arrange to go too.’

‘OK, I’ll do that. I’m glad that Monica and Grant have become such good friends. I knew they’d get on. Maybe when the festival is over I’ll become a matchmaker.’

‘Hm. If Monica and Grant are the sort of relationship you had in mind . . .’

‘OK, I take your point. So . . .’ She made another note. ‘All we have to do now is think up some way of filling that big Sunday night spot when Dermot was going to do an interview.’ She paused. ‘Who was going to interview him? Didn’t you have someone in mind?’

Fenella made a rueful face. ‘Sorry. I couldn’t get anyone that anyone had heard of without being able to say for sure if Dermot would actually be there.’

‘Fair enough, I suppose.’

‘So I thought you could do it.’

‘Me!’ Laura squeaked.

‘Well, why not? You know more about his books than anyone on the planet and you know him – what?’

‘It’s just . . . oh, Fenella, you know how shy I am!’

‘I know how shy you used to be. Besides, as they always say to worried people, “it may never happen”.’

Laura had to laugh now. ‘Well, that’s true. In fact, it probably won’t. So what shall we do to fill the space? If people have bought tickets, or even if they haven’t yet, we can’t have nothing on the Saturday night.’