She was a brunette and younger than the rest; Sophie judged her age to be no more than twenty-three. She was wearing an inexpensive but serviceable blue dress, a modest sheath, with a crisp plain cardigan, and basic makeup; Sophie caught a hint of Chanel No. 5.

“Pardon me, Madame,” said the girl with a bright smile, “but are you being assisted?”

Sophie shook her head. “It is a little late for you to be coming into work, isn’t it?”

She could see the question had thrown the young woman, but after a second’s pause she responded politely, “Yes, Madame, I do apologize. There was an accident on the Métro and our train was delayed. Madame is right, of course, the staff should be present when customers are here.”

Sophie smiled warmly. Her manner, as well as her dress, was a million miles from that of her colleagues.

“I was looking for a pair of earrings,” she said. “What do you recommend?”

The girl stepped back slightly and looked earnestly at Sophie, studying her face for a brief second.

“You have an oval face and a pale complexion, Madame. Most stones will look good against your skin; you can certainly wear longer earrings, and for evening I would recommend them. We have some beautiful things that I believe would suit you; but not everything we carry will complement you so well; some of the bolder choices that mix primary colours would not suit your style, I believe.”

“Why don’t you show me,” Sophie said, neutrally.

The girl led her back to the earrings case, opened it up, and selected five or six pieces, all choices Sophie might have made herself: cornflower blue sapphires, teardrops of pure gold, dangling lines of cabochon emeralds and peridot, angular shapes in mother-of-pearl. She displayed them reverently, describing the stones and the workmanship.

“Very lovely, but I don’t think these are for me,” Sophie said.

“If budget is a problem, Madame, I can suggest some different pairs, not made with the same gems, but they would look equally lovely against your neck.”

“I’m not in the mood to shop today,” Sophie said.

The girl’s politeness did not vary for an instant. “Very good, Madame; I hope you will return soon and permit me to show you some more pieces. It has been a pleasure to serve you.”

Sophie glanced at the girl’s colleagues. They were lounging against the wall, watching her with expressions that ranged from amusement to contempt.

“Thank you, Mademoiselle, you have been most helpful,” she said to her. “Tell me, have you worked at House Massot long?”

“No, Madame, just these six months.”

“You seem to have a great appreciation for jewellery—what is your name?”

“Claudette, Madame; yes—I love it,” she said passionately. “It is a most beautiful art form, and one in danger of being forgotten—amongst all the flashy things.”