Mma Makutsi beamed with pleasure at the recognition. “That is very kind of you, Mma Potokwane. I shall be Mma Radiphuti when I am in my house—and when I go to the shops.” That last qualification was important, as Mma Potokwane and Mma Ramotswe were quick to acknowledge. The Radiphuti name would certainly bring respect—and all necessary credit—when bandied about in shops.

“However,” went on Mma Makutsi, “my professional name remains Makutsi. That is quite common these days, you know. Professional people—doctors and lawyers and detectives—often keep their maiden name when they marry. That is because their clients and patients, and so on, all know them by that name.”

Mma Ramotswe thought it a bit presumptuous for Mma Makutsi to include herself in the company of doctors and lawyers, but did not say anything.

“It is also the name on my diploma from the Botswana Secretarial College,” Mma Makutsi said. “That is it, framed, up there. See it? It reads Grace Makutsi, just above the place where it says ninety-seven per cent. Right there.”

“I have seen it before,” said Mma Potokwane, slightly shortly. “You have drawn my attention to it, Mma. More than once, I think.” She paused, waiting for her pointed remark to be absorbed, but Mma Makutsi merely smiled encouragingly.

“So, Mma Ramotswe,” Mma Potokwane continued. “I have a rather complicated story to tell you.”

“I am used to such things,” Mma Ramotswe assured her. “Do I need to take notes? Is it that complicated?”

“I can write it all down in shorthand,” Mma Makutsi volunteered. “That way, not a word will be lost.”

“That will not be necessary,” snapped Mma Potokwane. “It is complicated and simple, all at the same time. You do not need to take notes. Have you heard of a man called Mr. Ditso Ditso? He is a well-known businessman.”

Mma Ramotswe nodded. She had not met Ditso Ditso, but had seen his name in the papers on numerous occasions. And she knew people who knew him; that was always the case in Botswana—you inevitably knew somebody who knew somebody.

“Rra Ditso is quite a good man, I think,” said Mma Potokwane. “Sometimes people like that—rich people—are very selfish and forget where they have come from and who their people are. He is not like that.”