The first thing I took out was a bone. It was long and thin, the surface yellowy and smooth. A wave of sickness washed over me. Pull yourself together, Zillah. It must belong to an animal. More tissue paper. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see what else was in there, but I gritted my teeth. The next thing out was a shield made of skin stretched tight over a wooden frame. It was something like a child’s kite only without the string. There were stains on it. Surely not blood. But what else could they be? I stood up and hefted it. It was heavy. I reached back into the trunk and drew out a spear. The point was wickedly sharp. Was this what killed the animal whose only remains was a bone? My God, had these things all belonged to someone? Where was that person now? I dropped the items to the floor as if they were burning hot.

‘Props to make your act more authentic,’ Crillick said. ‘You should be more careful. Those things don’t come cheap, you know.’

It was back, that feeling that tightened my chest when I was heckled onstage. Crillick called these things props, but they were no fake theatre pieces. They had a history. There was no way I could wield them. I looked from them to Crillick and back again, hating the cruel glint in his eye. Ellen must have noticed how he stared at me because she interrupted.

‘Can I give you a song, Mr Crillick? I’ve been practising the aria from La Sonnambula.’

‘The Bellini? But that’s almost twenty years old. I’ve told you before. That’s not your strength. Forget your arias. The bawdy songs are what suit you best. If you want to get to New York one day, you’ll need to carve out your own niche.’

Ellen smiled gamely but I knew this was the worst thing that he could say to her. She didn’t want to sing bawdy songs, but New York was her dream so she wouldn’t argue back. Not when I was there. Probably not even when I wasn’t. She never complained to him, never pulled him up, no matter what his actions cost her. No doubt she told herself that he was oblivious, but I couldn’t help but think he was shrewd enough to see beyond her brave face. He knew when he was hurting her, he just didn’t care enough not to.

‘Give me the one about the wife who discovers her husband with the maid. A couple of trills from you will give our Amazon just enough time to get into her costume and try out her new things.’

He turned to me and moistened his lips and Ellen’s face darkened in anger.

‘The paint takes almost an hour, sir,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting.’

Crillick checked his pocket watch and pouted.