Filled with joy, Ron hurried to relieve his friend of the basket and check on his precious ferrets. ‘Where did you find them?’ he breathed. ‘I’ve looked everywhere.’

‘Rosie found them in her back lav, so I said I’d bring them over.’

Ron frowned. ‘But why not bring them herself? Surely she’s not so cross she can’t even face me?’

Bert measured his reply. ‘It was a bit late when she found them, and she didn’t want to wake up the house,’ he said solemnly. ‘So I kept ’em overnight. Fine creatures, Ron. Made me wish I could have my own again, but the wife won’t hear of it.’

Ron eyed him suspiciously. He’d known Bert since they were in short trousers and could always tell when he was hiding something, for his ears went pink – but he said nothing, for he’d get whatever it was out of him soon enough.

‘Ach, Bert, ’tis a wonder they’ve come to no harm. Will you be coming in for a cuppa so I can thank you properly?’

‘I should be going home,’ Bert replied reluctantly.

‘I insist,’ said Ron, giving him a nudge towards the scullery door.

Bert stood firm. ‘No, really, old chum. I have to go home. The missus will give me earache as it is, and if I stay out much longer she’ll come to find me – and you know what that can lead to.’

Ron certainly did, for despite his size, Bert was terrified of his harridan of a wife who probably weighed less than six stone soaking wet, but possessed a voice akin to a chainsaw and a steely determination to make Bert’s life a misery. ‘Before you go, Bert, can you tell me when Rosie brought you the ferrets?’

‘Late last night,’ he replied, his gaze drifting beyond Ron’s shoulder as he edged towards the gate. ‘Too late for visiting, that’s for certain.’ He reached behind him for the latch and fumbled it open.

‘Rosie went out yesterday lunchtime,’ said Ron. ‘You seem to know everyone’s movements in this town, so where did she go?’

‘I don’t know,’ spluttered Bert, at last able to get through the gate and into the alley. ‘Stop badgering me, Ron, and just be thankful she found Flora and Dora and that they’ve come to no harm.’

‘But—’

‘No more, Ron.’ Bert waved a meaty finger at him. ‘You’re getting to sound like the wife.’ With that he turned on his heel and almost broke into a lumbering run as he made his escape.