He shot back to Harry, who was now agitated. ‘What the bloody hell are you doing? Suppose they’d come for us and you weren’t here? They would have thought we were thieves.’

Matt tipped his head back and laughed with glee. ‘Don’t be too generous with your offer for the car.’

‘Why not? If we’re going to get it, we’ll have to pay top price for it.’ Harry eyed him with interest. ‘What makes you think he’ll sell?’

‘Because the man’s in financial trouble.’

‘How can you tell?’

‘There are empty spaces on the walls; marks on the carpets where furniture had stood for many years.’ Matt couldn’t control his excitement. ‘He’s selling possessions!’

‘But he’s reputed to be a very, very rich man.’ Harry looked perplexed.

‘If that’s true, then why is he selling?’ Matt rubbed his hands in anticipation. ‘The man’s struggling, I’m sure, but he’s obviously managed to keep it quiet.’

Harry’s expression was thoughtful. ‘That puts a different picture on things.’

‘It certainly does. Bargain hard, because I believe he’s desperate and will sell.’

They stopped talking suddenly as the door opened and the chauffeur looked in. ‘Mr Greaves will see you. He’ll meet us round the back of the house.’

They followed, and when they saw the Rolls standing outside its garage Matt drew in a breath of appreciation. It really was a beauty. The dark blue bodywork and chrome fittings gleamed in the pale sunlight. He began to walk around it, drinking in the sheer elegance of the vehicle.

‘Here comes Greaves,’ Harry whispered. ‘For God’s sake, Matt, stay out of the way and don’t give him a chance to recognize you.’

Matt pulled his cap further over his eyes to cover more of his face and walked to the rear of the car, pretending to examine the tyres.

‘You won’t find anything wrong with the car.’ The chauffeur was following Matt. ‘But you know that already, as your garage has looked after her.’ The man smoothed his hand over the paintwork with an expression in his eyes that said it was going to break his heart to part with this, and he hoped his master wouldn’t sell.

‘Can’t be too careful.’ Matt kept his voice low so it didn’t reach the two men now in the process of negotiating a deal. ‘You might have had an accident since we last saw the vehicle.’

The chauffeur looked highly offended. ‘I’m an excellent driver. I do not have accidents!’

‘That is insulting!’ Greaves exclaimed loudly. ‘It’s worth double that.’