“Tell me, Sarah,” I said as we undressed for bed a few minutes later. “What were you laughing about with Morwenna?”
“Oh, nothing, darling.”
“Tell me.”
“Well, why did you think the big man from the choir backed down so easily when you faced up to him over the argument with that Pasco character?”
“Er… to be honest, I’m not sure.”
“Apparently,” she said giggling. “He thought, in fact it seems… that choir group all thought… no, I don’t want to spoil it. You were so brave.”
“Thought what exactly?”
“Thought you were a copper. There, I’ve said it.”
“A policeman, why?”
“They just did, I don’t know. Morwenna said she overheard them saying it. Convinced, she said they were, and a very senior copper at that.” Sarah sniggered. “Must be all that grey hair and your erect military bearing. Gives you a natural authority.” She sniggered again. “Gravitas even.”
I grimaced, counting myself lucky and thinking for a moment about the likely outcome of being mistaken for an off-duty policeman in some of the inner city pubs I knew.
“I have an erect military bearing?” was all I finally said.
“Oh yes, Jack, makes me quite weak at the knees.”
“That’s the second time someone’s said that to me tonight.”