‘Thank you, Mrs Daykin.’

An interrupted silence fell over the two of them, a moment of breach.

‘Come and have tea,’ he said.

‘Yes, I should love it,’ she replied, gathering herself together.

They sat facing each other across the tea table.

‘I did not say, nor imply, a satellite. I meant two single equal stars balanced in conjunction — ’

‘You gave yourself away, you gave away your little game completely,’ she cried, beginning at once to eat. He saw that she would take no further heed of his expostulation, so he began to pour the tea.

‘What GOOD things to eat!’