When the boat comes back, there’s a bit of a stir as if a barque had made land on the coast of Illyria. The servants are animated, there are flowers in all the rooms, the air itself is lively; the song of the turtle doves enters the house modestly through the open French windows. As she walks along the corridor to the library, where Harry now sleeps, she sees out of the tall windows Julian and Bryce walking through the pines towards the house. Two boys happy together. Harry is sitting on his bed as if waiting for a train.

‘Lunch is ready, Sir Harry, and Julian is back.’

‘Where he been?’

‘He’s been in the boat, testing the engines, I think.’

‘Sailing?’

He struggles with the word.

‘No, I don’t think so. Just a spin around the bay, Bryce said.’

He needs a little help standing up, but once he’s up he starts to walk purposefully, although insecurely, like a man on an icy road. She has a feeling that he is going to crash down at any minute. His legs are so thin, she sees, her heart breaking, as if she’s only just noticed.

Julian is waiting for his father. He looks a little tousled, reddened and boyishly happy.

‘Hello, Dad. You look great.’

‘Hello, my boy.’

The sound must be shocking to Julian. He looks at Estelle for a moment, then takes his father by the lower arm to steady him and leads him to a banquette where they sit, side by side. Bryce is now ferrying the drinks over. It’s part of his good-bloke persona: affable, helpful and deeply competent.

‘Jeez, Estelle, I’m as dry as a nun’s nasty. What can I get you?’

‘Bryce, what kind of language is that?’

‘Strine. We’re total barbarians. Now this one is for Sir Harry. What would you like?’

But before she can decide, she sees Julian beckoning to her.

‘I need you. I really can’t understand what he’s saying. Is he getting worse?’

‘I think maybe he is.’

‘Look, I have to get him to sign a power of attorney. A Lasting Power of Attorney, as it’s called. There are all sorts of things that for some reason need his say-so. The papers are ready. Will you witness after lunch? I am afraid you have to testify that he has signed of his own free will. If he’s gone past that point, we have to get a doctor to sign. But you do understand him, don’t you?’

‘Yes. I do. Yes.’

‘Good. Somebody, not family, has to witness, somebody who has known him for at least two years.’

‘Of course. I understand.’

‘We can’t really wait. There’s turmoil and madness out there.’