‘No, that was before my time. I started while he was making Sabotage, but my first writing job was on Young and Innocent, the film he made from Josephine’s book.’ 119

‘And your friendship survived that? I have heard he is not kind to his source material.’

Josephine smiled. ‘We’ve got through worse.’

Marlene looked intrigued but didn’t pry. ‘Everyone talks about the final shot of that film, but the one I really admired was the train under the bridge and the light on the houses – it has such a lovely mood. He is a master of camera work and lighting.’

‘He says the same about you. I’m surprised you’ve never met – you have a lot in common.’

‘Tell me – what is he like to work with?’

Marta seemed much more at ease, and Josephine was only too pleased to excuse herself from Hitchcock’s fan club as Hilaria continued the introductions. ‘Now, Archie – you and Richard must know each other already? Richard was our chaplain here very briefly, just before the war. Surely you met?’

‘No, I don’t think so,’ Archie said. ‘I was up at Cambridge then, and I didn’t get home very much, although your face looks familiar. Lovely to meet you.’

‘And this is Angela, Richard’s wife.’

‘The music was beautiful, Mrs Hartley,’ Josephine said. ‘I imagine it must have been quite nerve-racking, playing for someone so famous, but no one would ever have known.’

‘I’m afraid I’m not as sharp as I was,’ the vicar’s wife admitted, although she seemed pleased by the compliment. ‘Still, it all seemed to come back to me.’

‘Don’t be so modest, darling,’ Hartley said. ‘You’ve always loved your music, and you’ve only got better over the years.’

‘Actually, Angela, listening to you just now has given me an idea,’ Hilaria said. ‘Would you do me an enormous favour?’ 120

‘Of course, if I can.’

‘If the weather doesn’t improve, we’ll be short of an organist for tomorrow’s service – our usual man comes over from Marazion. I don’t suppose you’d play for us, would you?’

‘Oh, I’d love to!’ Angela clapped her hands together with delight, and Josephine noticed how happy her husband seemed for her. ‘It’ll be just like the old days,’ she said, looking at him. ‘I so enjoyed playing for Richard at St Clement’s when we lived in London.’

The name of the church obviously struck a chord with Archie. ‘St Clement’s in Notting Dale?’ he asked, and the vicar nodded. ‘That’s where we’ve met, not in Cornwall. It was Christmas 1920.’ Josephine looked curiously at him, wondering how he could be so specific. ‘Mollie Naylor and her children,’ Archie continued. ‘I was the police sergeant who found the survivors, and you came to collect them.’

Richard Hartley stared at him. ‘Of course, I remember now. You were looking after them when I got there.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘That was one of the worst days of my life. I still have nightmares about it, even now.’