That smug look returned to his face. “I understand it is possible to make one’s way down the cliff from your terrace to the terrace of Sir Toby. In fact, my men tell me that there are indications that somebody has climbed down that way recently.”

“Yes, I did,” I said. “When I first arrived at the villa I wanted to see if I could get down to the beach from our villa. I realized I would be trespassing on Sir Toby’s property, so I went back. He was still alive at the time,” I added. “And he had a lady called Olga with him. They were arguing, loudly.” I paused, staring eye to eye with Inspector Lafite. “Have you looked for this Mademoiselle Olga, Inspector? I am told she is a passionate and violent person. The kind of person who might stab someone with a pair of garden shears.”

I used this as my parting blow, turned my back on him and started to set out ashtrays again. In the end he admitted defeat and left.

Deliveries started—trays of food and sacks of ice, extra champagne in case the cellar ran dry.

“Heavens, are you planning to feed the five thousand?” I asked my mother, who was flitting around in her element, bossing the staff, as well as some extra local women she had acquired for the evening.

“The biggest crime in all of society is to run short of food,” she said.

“But what if nobody comes? It was rather short notice, wasn’t it?”

She smiled and patted my hand as if I were sweet but silly. “Darling, people drive for miles for free food and drink.”

“But not our crowd, surely.”

She turned to rearrange an enormous vase of spring flowers. “In case you haven’t noticed, the world is in a depression. Our crowd might be putting on a brave front, but they are struggling to keep up appearances, and hurting like everyone else.”

“Except for you, apparently.”

“Ah, well, I’m enjoying Max’s money.” She gave a naughty smile.

“I thought Germany was in a worse state than everywhere else,” I commented.

“It is. Absolutely terrible. The mark isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. People are using their life savings to buy bread.”

“So how is Max doing so brilliantly?”

“He’s not stupid, darling. His money has always been in Switzerland, and he owns factories around the world. And now he’s working with the German government to develop new military vehicles. Of course, you’re not supposed to know that.”

“But that might all come to an end for you, if you don’t return to him as commanded,” I pointed out.

“It might. We’ll see how I feel about him, and what else turns up. Something usually does. Now let’s go and see how they are getting on with those oysters, shall we?”