They’ve spent the last three days rehearsing their story. When they’ve not been rolling around Billy’s bed, in the room above the Crown, they’ve been planning the details: which rings they’ll ask to see; how they’ll separate the old man who owns the shop from the girl who works with him; how they’ll bide their time if they see other customers; and where Ron will be waiting with the car. He’s dropped them off two streets away, but he’ll be just outside when they’re done. Which is a good thing, because Ruby’s wearing new shoes and they are already pinching a little. She won’t want to run too far or too fast in these heels – jewels or no jewels.

The street is quiet, and the jeweller’s shop is empty, save for the owner, who is bent over a table with a cylindrical eyeglass stuck into one eye socket, examining a ring, a pair of tweezers in one hand. As Annie has told them, he closes at midday on Wednesdays, and it’s gone half past eleven. He’s not expecting any more customers.

The bell on the door gives a bright jangle as Billy pushes it and the old man looks up. His expression changes from surprise to delight as he takes in the vision of a wealthy young couple, and he scrambles down from his stool, pulling the glass from his eye.

Billy removes his hat and greets him, and the game begins.

‘I’m looking for something special for the lady,’ Billy says. His voice has altered: gone is the rough growl of the Borough dog. He’s purring softly in an imitation American drawl – an accent he picked up from soldiers he encountered in France. Ruby turns away to hide the twitch on her lips. She affects nonchalance, as though every day rich American men buy her diamonds. She finds a hand mirror on the counter, picks it up and smooths the black curl that’s peeping out from the underside of her close-fitting hat. She’s more interested in her own appearance, Ruby Wilder, the movie star, at least until the jeweller can show her something worth looking at. She’s wearing a coat she took from Grace Bartlett’s warehouse. It’s a gorgeous shade of blue and Grace said it came from Paris.