The raffle was drawn by the French designer. Third prize was an Air France trip to Paris for two with accommodation and expenses included. Much delighted screaming came from women near the winning ticketholder, an elderly woman with a walking stick. The second prize was dinner for four at a top London French restaurant. Cavalier held the ticket, but did not present it. There was a redraw. The winner was a teenage girl who looked as if she might faint from the thrill. The first prize of the navy blue handbag with a brown, circular motif was the one that most women in the room seemed to want. The designer made dramatic play of dipping her hand into a hat and drawing out the raffle ticket.

‘H5!’ she said into a microphone, holding the ticket high. Everyone scrambled to read their numbers. There were groans. It seemed as if there might be another redraw when Cavalier strolled to the designer and presented the winning ticket. There were cheers and clapping.

‘And what might you do with it?’ the designer asked, handing him the bag.

‘I may use it myself, or give it to a girlfriend,’ he said.

That drew laughs. The crowd went back to their champagne and further loud chatter. After a few minutes, Catherine joined Cavalier.

‘You have a girlfriend, dollink?’ she asked.

‘Sort of,’ he replied. ‘I’d like her to be.’

‘Is she here?’

Cavalier looked around the room.

‘I think so,’ he said.

‘Who is she?’ Catherine asked.

Cavalier lifted his hand as if to point at someone on the other side of the room but ended up pointing at her.

‘Me?’ she shrieked, her hand planted between her breasts. ‘Really, dollink?’

Cavalier handed her the bag and went to kiss her on the cheek, but Catherine lunged at him. She kissed him on the mouth, smearing lipstick on his lips, nose and cheeks. Others clapped and whistled. Cavalier used a napkin to wipe his face. More champagne was called for as several women surrounded Catherine, examining the prized possession.

Haut and Natalia came to him.

‘Very smart move!’ Haut said. ‘Catherine will be smitten after that gesture.’

Cavalier sipped his drink but said nothing.

‘Do you fancy her?’ Natalia asked.

‘C’mon, darling,’ Haut said, ‘any real man would.’

‘I am asking Victor,’ she said.

His smile was his reply.

The party continued. Another crate of champagne was opened. Cavalier told the others the next day would be big for him and began to leave. Catherine followed him out, clutching the handbag that now contained a bottle of champagne.

‘Hey, you!’ she called. ‘You are leaving without a kiss goodbye?’

She gripped him by the back of the head with her free left hand and kissed him on the mouth again, this time lingering and with plenty of tongue. Cavalier responded, but not with her passion.

‘My apartment is very close by, dollink,’ she purred. ‘Would you like to come up?’