I went down to meet him in the courtyard. He dismounted, grinning delightedly, and kissed my cheek.

“Got some great shots,” he said, holding up the camera. “The light is absolutely perfect today.”

As he said this, the sound of a motor engine made us both turn towards the street, where a small band of boys was collecting around a brand new yellow Bugatti. “At bloody last!” muttered Aidan. “You go upstairs. I’ll deal with him.”

“Actually, I think I’ll stay here.”

Aidan’s head whipped round, and he gave me one of his stares. “Plucky! You don’t change, do you?”

“Why should I?”

David stepped out of the motor car, shooing the children away and adjusting his hat. He was wearing a cream linen suit, white brogues and spats, and carried a cane. No doubt he wished to blend in with the millionaires on this coast. I considered the outfit ridiculous. When he saw us, he raised his straw panama. “So this is where you’re hiding, is it, you sly pair?”

“We are neither hiding nor sly,” said Aidan matter-of-factly. “And I can only imagine you are visiting us in order to bring Clara a gift.”

David sighed. “Same old Tobias.” His gaze slid over my face; he seemed nervous. “That depends on whether Clara has a gift for me.”

“I have,” I said. The situation felt unreal, like a script. “But you must give me yours first.”

His nervousness increased. He ran his tongue over his lower lip repeatedly as he stood there in the sunshine, his hands resting one on top of the other on his cane. “Why do you not go inside and fetch yours?” he asked me. “Then we can exchange.”

“Clara’s gift is not here,” said Aidan. He was watching David warily. “If you will accompany us down the street to the bank, I will retrieve it.” He took a quick glance at his watch. “They’ll be opening in five minutes.”

His distrust of David undiminished, he wished to make the exchange in a public place.

“Very well,” said David. “Lead the way.”