If Kevin was in the mood, he would grandly announce, ‘My tab’ to the assembled company, and then pretend to be embarrassed by the adulation he received. His tipple was a large vodka and tonic (or a large VAT, as he described it). He did not much care for the taste of the stuff but because that was what Minder’s Arthur Daley drank, he reckoned it must be the drink for a villain.

The crowd invariably contained its fair share of females and Kevin seldom encountered any difficulty in obtaining a companion for the night. He had little real regard for the female of the species and had only ever had one regular girlfriend, some years before. Marie had put up with him for six months despite the appalling treatment he dished out.

She only saw Kevin when it suited him. He would phone up and expect her to be ready to go out at a moment’s notice. He was as generous with money as he was parsimonious with affection. Marie was tall, raven haired, long legged and stunningly attractive, and Kevin liked to be seen in the company of a beautiful woman. It suited the image he wanted to project. He would bring her presents, usually jewellery or expensive underwear, and take her out to the best restaurants. At the end of the evening Kevin expected Marie to perform sexually for him.

Kevin liked sex. He had no time for the gentler feelings or physical intricacies of lovemaking. He would take Marie back to her flat and tell her to undress as she walked up the stairs in the close. Sometimes he demanded that she strip in the car and walk along the street and into the building wearing only the latest underwear he had bought for her. Kevin liked underwear, especially Basques, stockings and suspenders, all of which he cheerfully bought in large quantities.

Marie was never allowed to wear trousers. Only once did she have the temerity to wear tights. Kevin had phoned to say that he would pick her up in ten minutes to go out for a meal. Marie was just back from her office job and had not had time to do other than have a quick wash and change into a dress. Boyle had parked his BMW outside her door and blasted the horn. When Marie got into the car, he greeted her by putting his hand up her skirt, as usual. When he felt no bare flesh he flew into a rage, told her to get out, sped off and over two weeks elapsed before he made any contact. A phone call announced they were going out for dinner, as if nothing had happened. When Marie got into the car, Kevin was delighted to discover she was wearing stockings. He handed her a box containing some Janet Reger silk underwear. He offered her no apology. She did not expect one.