Raj examined the paintings on the boomerang. “What’s the story?”

“Oh, he told me. Funny-looking chap, I’ll tell you. And the whiff off him would pole-ax a donkey, good lord.” He helped himself to another enormous slice of pie.

The kettle had boiled. She brought the tea to the table and sat down.

“MIT’s one of the best universities in the country,” she said. “If not the very best for what Raj is doing.”

“Is it now?” He raised his eyebrows. She wanted him to say more, but he didn’t and they fell silent.

“How’s Haig?” she asked.

“Tell you the truth I’ve been out of touch. Been all over the shop. His girl—”

“Cecilia,” Raj said.

“That’s her. Wrote to me for a while. Sweet girl. Seemed to think I was a pirate or something. Wanted to know where you were.” He pointed at Raj. “Guess Haig wouldn’t tell her.”

Raj looked stricken. “Maybe I can write her.”

“They moved. Moved somewhere. She’ll be all grown up now, anyway.”

For a moment Gerard looked tired and serious, and she caught a glimpse of the bitter and dissolute actor behind the scenes.

“I should leave you two to talk,” she said, getting up. “I’m sure Raj has a lot of questions for you.”

“Oh, look here, Ruth”—he reached over as if prepared to physically pull her back down—“can’t stay long. There’s a train coming through here at one. That truck: Some chap just lent it to me. Can you believe that? I mean, I get off the train, ask where your place is, and this farmer chap says I can take his truck as long as I get it back to town by tomorrow morning. But listen, Ruth, I wondered if Oliver…if you have his papers, documents?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I guess they’d all be in the attic somewhere.”

“I could help you look.” He went to stand up, but she put her hand on his shoulder.

“You stay here.”

She went into the attic. All Oliver’s papers were in a lap desk in the corner. It amazed her suddenly that she had never really looked through this stuff. There was his passport and birth certificate, and then she came upon a deed for some land in San Francisco, in Oliver’s name, countersigned by Gerard. She returned.

“The crocs are huge,” he was saying to Raj, “jump right out at you.” He looked up at her eagerly.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t find them.”

“I could have a look,” Raj said.

“Yes…the boy can help you. I mean, I have a little time.”

It was clear by his hesitation and the way he said the boy that he had forgotten his own son’s name.

“I have a feeling I sent all that stuff to Haig.”