‘If it hadn’t have been for Collis, everything would have worked out perfectly well!’ snapped Makepeace. ‘Now, it’s ruination. I haven’t the least idea what we’re going to do, but this letter from the bank makes it absolutely clear what I can’t do. I can’t touch any of my invested money, I can’t seek loans, I can’t authorise any underwriting of debts. I’m finished, and all because of a son I thought I could trust!’

Collis stood up. He was the only one who had eaten, and he patted his lips with his napkin. ‘Father,’ he said calmly, ‘if I am to be blamed for this entire disaster, I think it would probably be better for all of you if I packed my bag and left home for a while.’

The breakfast room was silent. Collis cocked his head to one side, like his father, and gave a faint, regretful smile. Maude sobbed into her wet, screwed-up handkerchief. Makepeace, his face pale and solemn, stood in the far corner of the room, by the heavy net curtains, as motionless as a man carved from ebony and ivory. Ida, in a sudden flurry of skirts and perfume, withdrew from the breakfast table, left the room, and closed the door behind her. They heard a muted mewl, like a cat, as she fled down the hall.

‘I think you’d better do as you’ve suggested, and pack your bag,’ fumed Makepeace. ‘I’m not sure how much longer I can tolerate your presence around this house.’

Collis finished his coffee. ‘Father,’ he said, ‘I was just thinking the very same thing.’

It was his original intention to stay for a week or two with Henry Browne, until the scandal had blown over; but when he took a cab to Henry’s over on Washington Place, he saw to his dismay that Nathan Hackett was standing on the doorstep, in a smart cream summer coat, and so he reached up and tapped the cabbie on the back with his cane and directed him to carry straight on by. It wasn’t that he was ashamed to face Nathan, eventually. It was simply that he would rather postpone their next meeting until he had enough cash in hand to pay off his debt for that accursed lobster. He could never have dreamed of embarrassing Nathan by offering an IOU — not when Nathan and half of New York already knew that Makepeace Edmonds was flat broke and on suspension from I. P. Woolmer’s Bank. All in all, the recognised etiquette during times of financial stress was to keep one’s head well down and avoid putting one’s friends into uncomfortable corners.