‘I’ve tried to be supportive as deputy, and I appreciate how professional you’ve always been. There’s nothing personal in this, or if there is then let’s make it mutual respect. That’s how I’ll be campaigning anyhow. I hope you’re okay with it?’ It had all come in rather a rush, and Philip leant back in obvious relief. Pearly knew it hadn’t been easy for him.

Did it matter, Philip Utterspan running against him? Had they been close friends and closer in ideology, Pearly could imagine a discussion in which Philip agreed to withhold a challenge until the next mayoral term expired in return for Pearly’s support when that occurred. In reality there was no reason why Pearly’s ambition should be an obstacle to that of his deputy. Pearly believed in healthy and open competition, and let the best man win — perhaps because usually he’d proved to be that man.

He would talk to colleagues whose judgement he respected, Pearly decided as he left the bookshop. He would talk to Helen, and Anne, who sustained Rawleigh and Gates when he was distracted by civic duties. He would nut out what was best for them all.

After the meeting with Philip, his intention had been to go to Solomon Street and see the three townhouses that were being built on a section where the old Mannering villa had been, but his way took him past the Prendergasts’ house, and on impulse he stopped there and went in to see how Rob was doing. Jill came to the door. ‘Pearly,’ she said warmly.

‘Is it convenient? I was just passing and thought—’

‘He’d love to see you.’

Rob was sitting in the glassed porch, the sun full on him, yet he wore a jersey and winter socks. The chair was low and his legs long, so his feet were well planted and his knees almost level with his face. ‘Pearly,’ he said with emotion equal to that of his wife, but in a voice of husky emptiness. Pearly was disconcerted to see how much he’d slipped since the annual show.

‘How’ve you been?’ said Pearly, aware the question was superfluous.

‘Oh, getting by. I’m seventy-six now, you know. No spring chicken. Some cancer thing that I’m having treatment for, but life goes on.’

‘He won’t take it easy,’ said Jill. She was standing in the doorway, waiting to see the conversation get under way before leaving them.

‘I don’t know what the museum and library could do without you. Both of you.’

‘He’s still been going in,’ said Jill.

‘I go in and sit and watch Jill work,’ said Rob.

‘We’ve been helping catalogue and digitise all the historical photographs.’

‘That’ll be a big job, I imagine,’ said Pearly.