‘How extraordinary - so was mine. At a prep-school in Berkshire. Surely not yours too?’

‘Oh no - Herts!’

‘Ah, the white harts of Hertfordshire, a most historic county.’

‘Oh, hardly anyone knows the white deer. We have them just by us in the woods beyond the house.’

‘They’re quite as special as unicorns, don’t you think?’

‘Oh yes. Yes I do...’ She warmed up in his presence and forgot her miseries. ‘It’s nice to think of them now in this heat, so closed in this city.’

‘Now come along, this is a great town. So much to see if you only know where. I’m sure your charming hostess has got things lined up?’

‘Oh... Some parties of course, and shopping. And clubs. So many clubs. The Calcutta Club, the Tollygunge, the Saturday Club... I’ve been to three already and I’ve only been here five days.’

‘Hmm. Would you like something more substantial?’ He leant against the balcony with his hands in his pockets and surveyed her.

‘Well...’

‘I’ve got a pal who is curator at the Calcutta Museum, he can take you round for some hard sight-seeing if you’d like. He’s a very sound executioner of information. And he’d show you the Imperial Library too. It’s really terrific. Huge. Has Mrs Lewis’s husband popped up yet?’

‘No. She said he was travelling in Delhi. She must get rather lonely with his being away, my mother would if Daddy left her. I don’t think husbands should.....be away like that, not all the time.’

‘Must indeed, be lonely. Probably why she throws all the parties and shops so.’

‘Yes of course I hadn’t thought that. Poor Mrs Lewis.’

‘Now what about the Victoria Memorial? She’s surely shown you that?’