Estelle hasn’t told Sir Harry that the box has been sold. He still speaks of going to the opera and of taking a party to Glyndebourne. Estelle has the impression that Fleur is embarrassed to be seen with him, now that he stumbles and sometimes dribbles, and speaks in this strange, trapped-avian voice. She is much younger than Sir Harry, but then she knew that when she left the playwright to marry him.

Estelle looks at him as he stares out to sea. She wonders what he is truly thinking. Somehow, despite the tragedy that has taken him, he seems to retain his ability to be cheerful and also to choose unerringly what to wear. At a distance there is nothing of the invalid about him although close up the skin of his face has a sort of white, fungal bloom. Like an apple stored in a shed. He is too thin, so that as he sits his thighs barely disturb the plum trousers. They look like the trousers on a marionette, lacking substance. Yet he seems serene. Occasionally, as he is dictating his letters to Julian, he becomes agitated. Now he watches a yacht tacking on the bay with approval.

‘We must get the . . .’

He points at the yacht.

‘The boat out?’

‘Yes. Tell . . .’

‘Bryce?’

‘Tell Bryce that I want it out before Christmas.’

‘Easter, I think. I will make a note.’

‘Julian and the children want sail.’

He never forgets Julian’s name and Estelle finds this touching. At that moment one of the house servants, Antoine, walks over. He speaks to Estelle in English, because she has never learned much French.

‘Madame, there is a gentleman at the gate. He wishes to speak with Monsieur Julian.’

‘Who is he?’

‘He is the Russian gentleman who has bought Villa Floriana.’

‘I will speak to him.’

Estelle goes to the front gate. It is their new neighbour, Boris Vladykin, standing there in very large shorts. He is sweating and his breath smells of alcohol.

‘Good morning, Mr Vladykin.’

‘I want speak to Mr Julian.’

His face is broad and sweaty; the spring sunshine is hot.

‘He is not here, but he is coming soon. What do you wish to discuss?’

His English is poor.

‘I want to talk to Mr Julian about boat.’

‘Niobe is in the boatyard at the port for repairs. I don’t know anything more. Goodbye, Mr Vladykin. Mr Julian is coming down next week. He will know.’

She shuts the gate and walks back through the house and out on to the terrace. Vladykin rings the bell again, but she ignores him.

Harry makes a noise, which Estelle interprets.

‘It was Mr Vladykin. I don’t know what he wants. He was wearing those ghastly shorts.’

Harry is disturbed. His face is flushed and his eyes are pained and restless. She wonders what Vladykin wants. She feels a spreading unease. The barbarians are at the gate.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2