‘Madeleine. Why shouldn’t it be me?’ ‘I was afraid your wife might answer. I suppose I’d just have rung off if she had.’ ‘You needn’t worry. I always answer the phone.’ ‘You’re more mobile, I suppose, than she is.’ Bernard neither confirmed nor denied this. ‘Just assume that you’re safe to ring me.’ ‘And she can’t hear your end of the conversation?’ ‘The telephone’s in my study.’ Madeleine sighed with relief. ‘It’s amazing how quickly one slips into the usages of duplicity. Secret phone-calls, secret messages.’ ‘Yes.’ Bernard did not appear to wish to pursue this topic. He sounded expectant, waiting for something from her. ‘I rang,’ said Madeleine slowly, ‘in response to your invitation.’ ‘Yes?’ ‘Being a nicely brought-up lady, I know that one should reply to invitations promptly. I know it should really be done by letter, but I wasn’t sure who picked up the post in your house.’ ‘I do that too.’ ‘I wasn’t to know that.
