‘Very special,’ Billy continues, leaning closer to the man, allowing him to notice the cut and quality of his suit. It’s a good suit, one that Billy had made somewhere in Piccadilly, albeit with the cash he’d taken from an envelope addressed to someone else. But the man won’t know that. He’ll only see the tailoring, smell the scent of wealth. Billy is oozing new money – the sort of money made off the back of the war, but money all the same. He wants the man to smell it, sense it, so that he relaxes and brings out all the goods. ‘I need the whole world to see what this little lady means to me.’

At this, Ruby turns and gives Billy an adoring smile.

‘You’ve seen Miss Wilder, I assume?’ Billy asks. ‘Ruby Wilder? The movie star? She’s gonna be bigger than Mary Pickford, you mark my words.’

Ruby simpers just a little, and the man, keen to oblige, nods. ‘I’m not really one for the moving pictures,’ he says. ‘But my daughter’s very keen. It’s a pity that she’s out at the moment.’ He wheezes as he speaks. He has some sort of weakness with his lungs. He won’t be giving them much of a chase. Annie Richmond has chosen this place very carefully.

‘Then you’ll know what I’m looking for,’ Billy says. ‘Something that sparkles even more than she does – if such a thing exists. Diamonds and – hell, why not – how about a ruby?’

‘Oh, Mr Warner, you’re such a darling,’ Ruby is interested now, laying down the mirror and moving to his arm. ‘A ruby for a Ruby.’

‘But diamonds, too, sweetheart, to match the fire in those eyes.’

The jeweller ignores their cooing. He scrambles for the trays of diamond rings, necklaces and earrings. There’s a pad of brooches, some nearly as big as Ruby’s fist. He lays them all out on the counter. There’s one shaped like a crescent moon and encrusted with diamonds that catches Ruby’s eye. She reaches out a gloved hand and strokes it.

‘This is very pretty.’ It’s very large. Just what they’re looking for. Solly Palmer will pull it apart for them, sell off the stones in Amsterdam and make twice whatever this jeweller wants for it.

‘I’d give you the moon if I could,’ Billy says, laying a hand over hers. ‘Perhaps this one will have to do for now. May we take a closer look?’ he asks the jeweller.

‘Certainly, sir.’ The old man is willing to become more obsequious towards the rich young American now there might be a purchase. He pulls the brooch from the pad and hands it to Ruby, who holds it against her coat. Billy reaches for the little mirror and lifts it up for her to inspect herself.