When Montel reached them, he sat on the wall between them. ‘It iz that Susan iz distraught. She says Harold haz told her to leave before he gets back. It seems he has taken up with the daughter of the same man who bought the picture, only he haz bragged that he owns two mills and a large house in Blackburn and one in London. His own mill has gone, and hiz uncle iz dead. There iz nothing left of that legacy. He haz taken to gambling and loses heavily, whilst hiz aim iz to win big. Susan said your family mill iz running into the ground, with huge debts.’

‘Why didn’t she tell you any of this before?’

‘Mainly because Harold waz always there when I telephoned, and he haz been stopping Susan from using the telephone and monitors the bill, zo that she can’t get away with it. She said she tried to get to Dr Lange to give him a message, but he wasn’t in. He is away on a long holiday.’

‘Yes, I know. David’s last letter said he was going to travel wherever the whim took him, and that his first port of call was Africa. He was leaving on a ship from Southampton.’

‘Susan iz afraid. She knows Harold will kick her out, but doesn’t know when. She iz staying until she haz to go. I tried to persuade her to come here, but she dare not. She said if she did and Harold found out, then she waz afraid for her life.’

‘Oh, dear God! Look, Montel, we have to protect Susan. Has she a bank account of her own?’

‘No, dear Mags, she iz not of that status.’

‘Well, we must get money to her somehow. I will look into telegraphing some to a post office for her. Then she can find some accommodation until it is safe to come up here.’

‘Thank you, Mags. Thiz will put my mind at rest. Now I must search out Rory. He iz usually about, from around this time.’

‘Can he not look after both the boathouse and our house? He can see each from the other. And he can patrol them both.’

‘It iz too much responsibility for him. He can see, yes, but he cannot be in two places at one time.’

‘I just hate you being down here on your own.’

‘I am zee soldier! I have zee highest honour for fighting the Germans, zo I can fight off zee Harolds of thiz world with no problem. I will be ready, and if he comes, then I will surprise him. He will run off, I am sure. Especially az I will shout for Rory, who I will instruct to fire hiz gun in the air if I call out to him. It will be very funny to see Harold running. And I don’t think he will come back.’

When darkness fell and Montel was ready to leave the house, Mags’s heart felt heavy. She clung to him. ‘Be safe, my darling. Be safe.’