‘She doesn’t seem to have any luggage. She’s brought everything in paper bags,’ said Mrs Raffald, ‘and left them in the hallway.’

‘Perhaps she can’t afford luggage,’ I said, thinking of Monica’s lifestyle on alimony.

‘Don’t suppose she can,’ said Mrs Raffald, who knew everything about the circumstances of Monica’s divorce. ‘Only it needn’t be alligator skin. Anyone can afford a cloth holdall.’

‘I hope it won’t mean too much work for you,’ I said.

‘I won’t neglect you,’ said Mrs Raffald, familiar with the weak selfishness of the aged.

‘That’s good,’ I said. ‘Hand me my top teeth and I’ll smile at you.’

‘Eat your toast,’ she said.

Despite the headache I felt happier that day, more relaxed. I had made a conscious decision not to worry myself to death, since it couldn’t be long before he came for me anyway. Why waste strength?

‘Where’s Lili?’ I asked.

‘I saw her going down the garden before I left,’ said Mrs Raffald. ‘She’ll probably be along any minute.’

‘Will you send her up if she comes?’ I asked.

‘Yeah,’ said Mrs Raffald. ‘Shall I tell her to bring anything up with her?’

‘Cigarettes,’ I said, ‘and sherry. I’m not going to drink whisky all day long. Only when there’s a wedding in the offing I do think one needs something.’

‘I’ll tell her to bring the dog up too. He’s pining down there.’ Mrs Raffald had a soft spot for dog despite the mess he made. I think she was one of those unusual folk with a genuine tenderness for the old. It’s easy for most people to like babies, but the helplessness of the aged does not have the same appeal.

‘Cuckoo,’ came the cry from the stairs.

‘Come on in,’ I said.

Lili put dog on the bed and his claws scraped at the silk counterpane.

‘Put the little beast on the floor,’ I said, ‘and move those clothes off the chair and sit down.’

She was wearing a bright red coat and was clearly going further than my house. Underneath she wore a black jersey dress, more suitable for tea at the Ritz than a drunken morning with an old lady.

‘You’re going out,’ I said, and I knew I sounded doleful and despised myself for it.

‘I have to go and sort out finances at the gallery,’ she said, ‘and then on to lunch with some people, and then off to dinner with some more.’

‘Well, have a nice time,’ I said.

‘I’d stay,’ said Lili, looking at her watch, ‘but I must get a move on. I had to get out of that house. I’ll tell you all about it later...’ and she was gone.