Collis sat down on the daybed and looked at them without saying a word. If they didn’t get their calotypes, Sarah’s abduction would be nothing more than a ridiculous charade. Apart from the sheer absurdity of returning Sarah to the bosom of her family completely unharmed and untouched, at the cost of two cabs, one Chilean fish-crate wagon driver, two cups of coffee, and a lemon pastry he hadn’t eaten, there was the painful prospect of having to go back to Hannah and admit that his wonderful secret plan, the plan which had led to so many arguments, had dismally failed.

‘It’s that Chinese bastard, Kwang,’ Andy said. ‘He probably gave you a bottle of rice wine, or pig’s piss, or whatever it is those Chinks use to cook with.’

Collis shrugged. ‘He said it was opium tincture, and strong, too. How much did you give her?’

‘Four spoonfuls, just as you said.’

‘Well, I don’t understand it,’ said Collis. ‘He specifically said that if she had anything more than a few drops, she’d fall flat on her back. He warned me not to give her too much, in case it killed her.’

‘Aah, you know what these Chinese are like,’ said Andy. ‘All noodles and shrimps and hocus-pocus.’

‘What are we going to do?’ asked Maria-Mamuska softly. ‘If she doesn’t sleep, then we can’t take the pictures.’

‘I’m thinking,’ said Collis. ‘There has to be a way out of this somehow.’

‘I could punch her,’ suggested Dan McReady helpfully.

‘Don’t be so damned stupid,’ said Collis. ‘The whole point of this plan is that she doesn’t get harmed. Not physically, anyway.’

‘We could keep her here until she drops to sleep naturally.’

‘And then what? You can’t take calotypes at night. It’s going to be difficult enough as it is unless the sun comes out.’

‘Maybe we have to let her go,’ said Maria-Mamuska.

‘And maybe we have to tell her what’s going on,’ said another voice, cultured and sharp.

They looked up, in complete shock. Standing in the open doorway in her grey overcoat was Sarah Melford, straight-backed, composed, and not drugged in the slightest. Just behind her, Mr Figgis was trying to communicate with a variety of shrugs and facial contortions that he had tried to stop her, without success.

‘Is this a kidnapping?’ asked Sarah, stepping into the room. ‘Is it serious, or is it a joke? Collis — seeing you here, I must conclude that it’s a joke.’

Collis pressed his fingers against his eyelids as if he could make the whole scene vanish. Then he opened his eyes again, and found it was all still real, and sighed.

‘Well?’ demanded Sarah. ‘Aren’t you going to tell me what’s up? Aren’t you going to tell me who are these peculiar people, and why they’ve brought me here?’