‘Oh, you’re a rower?’ Judith said, just to fill the dead air, but it was as she was looking at the photos that inspiration finally came to her.

‘You owe me money!’ she blurted.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘Yes, I should have said sooner. My name’s Mrs Judith Potts, and you owe me money. From Henley Regatta. When you really didn’t behave very well at all.’

This got Elliot’s attention.

‘What on earth are you talking about?’ he said, but Judith got the impression that he’d maybe been rattled by her allegation.

‘As far as I’m concerned, you were a disgrace. In the Royal Enclosure. The way you carried on in that argument with that man.’

‘What man would this be?’

‘Stefan whatever-his-name-is. He runs the art gallery in Marlow. I thought you were very rude to him. But then you pushed past me when you left and made me spill my red wine down my dress. It’s cost over seventy pounds to dry clean, and I expect you to pay the bill.’

Elliot considered Judith for a long moment.

‘I don’t remember spilling anyone’s drink,’ he said.

‘But you don’t deny the argument, do you?’

‘It’s true Mr Dunwoody and I had a difference of opinion that day. But I don’t remember you at all.’

‘I’m not surprised. You were in such a state I can well imagine you don’t remember anything from that day. That poor man you were shouting at, he’d done nothing wrong.’

‘Oh he’d done wrong all right.’

‘It can’t have been anything worth losing your temper over like that.’

‘You’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘That’s as well as may be, but even so—’

‘He was a fraud,’ Elliot said, interrupting Judith.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘In fact, I’d go further. Stefan Dunwoody was a fraud and a liar. And a cheat and a crook. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m a busy man. I’d like you to leave.’

With a cold smile that said the meeting was over, Elliot picked up some papers on his desk and started reading.

‘But what about my dress?’ Judith spluttered.

‘If you ask me,’ Elliot said without looking up, ‘you’ve invented the whole thing. God knows why. Because I have an excellent memory for faces and I’m sure we’ve not met before. What’s more, I definitely didn’t spill any wine on anyone’s dress at Henley. And if I had, I’m sure that person wouldn’t have waited nearly two months before approaching me. Now, I must ask you to leave my office.’

Judith opened her mouth a couple of times, rearranged her hold on her handbag, and then realised she still had nothing further to add.

She turned to leave, but stopped as she was about to open the door.