The Master, perched behind her broad desk, her elegant, white bob and big, red-framed glasses making Lucas think of a small, outlandish bird. Behind the lenses she had the quick eyes of a bird too, strong and blue, but never settling. She got to her feet the moment he entered, smoothing the crumples out of her trouser suit and indicating for him to take a seat in one of the high-backed armchairs set at angles round the stone hearth, where two porcelain dogs guarded a set of fire irons and a wood basket that he had never once seen used. Above them, a gold-framed oil painting of the college founder, dressed in full academic regalia, stared imperiously towards the mullioned windows that overlooked the garden.

‘You are well, I hope, Lucas?’

‘Yes, Master, extremely, thank you.’ Despite her short stature, she had a commanding manner. ‘The long break is such a good opportunity to get some real work done,’ Lucas added energetically, doing his best to fill the large and not very comfortable chair in the manner of one without a care in the world, crossing his legs and folding his arms across his beating heart.

‘The Chaplain is running a few minutes late. Tea? Coffee?’

‘Neither, thanks.’ Lucas unfolded his arms. The inside of his mouth felt curiously sticky. ‘Actually, a glass of water would be good,’ he said, spotting a full jug sitting inside a circle of glasses on a tray, lemon slithers floating on its surface.

‘Certainly.’ The Master crossed the room, looking, Lucas couldn’t help thinking, as if she was glad to have something to do other than not-talk about what they were going to have to talk about once Reverend Moore arrived. ‘I hope you know, Master, that when Claire told me on Monday, I was stunned and appalled,’ he burst out as the glass was handed to him; ‘it is all total nonsense.’

He was thrown a brief, regretful smile. ‘That is not a word we can, at this stage, consider using. Nonsense. But I do have every hope that we might clear things up quickly… ah, here she is,’ she cried, with evident relief, as a knock on the door heralded the arrival of the College Chaplain.

‘Claire, thank you for coming. Take a pew… if you’ll pardon the expression.’ They both laughed, and Lucas envied them. ‘Tea?’

‘No, Master, I’m fine, thanks. Lucas, hello.’