‘We’re all trying to rally round, but an awful lot of drinkers don’t want to go to a place where they can’t smoke. John Fletcher didn’t think it would strike so hard.’

‘He’s got quite a big car park at the back,’ said Agatha. ‘He could put up one of those marquee things with heaters.’

‘He hasn’t the money for that now.’

‘Then we’d better start raising some,’ said Agatha.

‘If anyone can do it, you can.’ Agatha’s past career was that of a successful public relations executive.

‘Are you going to Mr Lacey’s wedding?’ asked Mrs Bloxby.

‘Of course. They’re being married in Felicity’s home village of Downboys in Sussex. I suppose they’ll arrange accommodation for us all.’

‘I asked about that,’ said Mrs Bloxby. ‘We’re expected to make our own bookings. There’s the town of Hewes not too far away.’

‘Cheapskates! I hope I can still get a room.’

‘I think you have one. Toni Gilmour has been invited and knowing you were away and the possible shortage of rooms, she booked a double at The Jolly Farmer in Hewes.’

The doorbell rang and Mrs Bloxby went to answer it. She came back followed by Bill Wong. Bill was half Chinese and half English. He had a strong Gloucester accent and the only thing oriental about him was his rather beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

‘Hello, Agatha,’ said Bill. ‘Thought I might find you here. You’ve been putting the frighteners on your ex.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Agatha, turning red. ‘How are your parents?’

But Bill was not to be deflected. ‘James phoned me from the Crimea. Told me he saw you. Then when he went to Gallipoli, there you were again. He thinks you’re stalking him.’

‘The vanity of men never ceases to amaze me,’ said Agatha.

‘But what on earth were you doing?’ asked Bill.

‘It’s coincidence, that’s all,’ said Agatha. ‘I was on holiday. I was James’s wife, remember, so I learned a lot about military history.’

‘Oh, really? When was the Battle of Waterloo?’

‘Mr Wong,’ said Mrs Bloxby gently. ‘You are surely off duty and not interrogating a suspect. Tea or coffee?’

‘Coffee, please.’

When she had served coffee, Mrs Bloxby broke the heavy silence between Agatha and Bill by asking Agatha how she would go about fund-raising to save the village pub.

Anxious to escape any further questions from Bill, Agatha began to talk of running an initial campaign in the local papers and then holding a fête to raise money. ‘Maybe I’ll get a smoking celebrity’ she said.

Bill eventually left and drove into police headquarters in Mircester to start his shift.

He decided to phone James, who was staying with his future in-laws in Downboys in Sussex.