They followed him to the end of the ward. There was a swelling on the side of his neck the size of a hen’s egg. It did not look angry but lay under the same milk-white skin as the rest. He led them into a corridor, past one door, past the next. At the third he stopped and knocked. After a moment the door was opened. A man stood there, broad shoulders in a dark grey coat. Late thirties, perhaps early forties. He did have a beard. It was black and well tended. In this house of sickness he shone with health.

“More patients for you, Mr. Rizzo,” said the boy.

“Thank you, Robert,” said Rizzo. “I will come and say hello to you later.”

The boy left them. They watched him go.

“He has been with us a month,” said Rizzo, once the boy was out of sight. “He is not my patient but I am trying to keep him away from my more eager colleagues. Where there can be no benefit . . . ” He tailed off. He smiled at Emily. He was noticing her eyes, was already, perhaps, some way on with his diagnosis.

“I am Emily Frend,” she said. “I am hoping you received my letter.”

“But of course. It is on my desk.” He turned to Lacroix. “And you are the brother who has come for his teeth.”

“This is Mr. Lovall,” said Emily. “He has been kind enough to accompany me. I believe his teeth are perfectly well.”

“A great pity,” said Rizzo. “I had someone excellent in mind.”

He invited them into his room. He apologised for its smallness. There was a desk, and behind that a chair by the window, the window propped open with books. He asked Emily to sit on the chair and make herself comfortable.

“Should I stay?” said Lacroix. The question was addressed to both or either. Emily looked at Rizzo, Rizzo at Emily, then at Lacroix.

“Of course,” he said. “It is good to have the company of a friend. Miss Frend and her friend! Ach, I am sorry. You must have suffered such witticisms before. The Swiss, I fear, are not so celebrated for their humour.”

“You are Swiss?” asked Lacroix.

“From Grindelwald,” said Rizzo, “where we speak German. But my grandfather came from Turin and his grandfather from Naples. So I confuse people with an Italian name. They expect me to sing more.” He shrugged. To Emily he said, “Perhaps you would like to take off your hat?”