Surely he wouldn’t dare talk to Vincent about what he’d called my appetites? Or was it a topic he’d been desperate to broach, and now he’d take the chance to satisfy his curiosity? The atmosphere between the two men had become fraught and tense all of a sudden. Vincent laughed but there was no real mirth there any more. Frustrated by my partial view, I pushed the door a little wider still, grateful for the servants who kept the hinges well oiled. There were four balls left on the table, but for the moment the game had been abandoned and the two men faced off across the baize.

‘She came to see me after the party, practically in her smalls,’ Crillick said.

Lies. I’d been wrapped up in Vincent’s dressing gown, but Crillick made it sound like I had made a play for him. Vincent had told me to leave it with him. He wouldn’t like this at all and Crillick knew it.

‘She was pleading with me about the Leopard Lady. “Promise me you won’t hurt her, Marcus” and all that.’

I never called Crillick by his first name. Surely this would tell Vincent that his friend was lying, but the jealousy was on him now. I heard it in the chill of his voice and what he said next.

‘She’s frightened of a little healthy competition is all.’

How could Vincent say that? He must think very little of me if he thought all I cared about was my place in the theatre. He knew there was more to it than that. I knew he’d felt the wrongness of it too, even though he chose not to confront it. I did not have that privilege.

‘So, should I tell Alexander you’ll come with me to his dinner tomorrow?’

Crillick was playing Vincent like a fiddle. Even before he agreed, I knew he would fall for it and my heart sank.

‘I don’t see why not.’

‘Good man. Alexander asked me to put a word in, so he’ll be pleased. He’d be the perfect partner in my little venture. If you could oblige me by—’

‘By marrying his sister,’ Vincent cut in. ‘Dammit, you beat all.’

Crillick was unrepentant. ‘Business is business, old man.’

I leant back against the wall and there was a clack as another ball was potted.

‘That’s three hundred points. I make that the game,’ Crillick said.

‘Did you not touch the black when you leant down? I could’ve sworn it moved.’

‘Not me. I’m surprised you’d be a sore loser.’