“Perhaps I could just intervene?” said Daphne, trying to break up what sounded to her like a very depressing conversation. “We’ve got something new in involving a blowtorch and half a dozen squirrels that will make your eyes stand out like chapel hat-pegs.” She ran its instructions seductively up her arm.
“Self-preservation is a very strong instinct,” May told Bryant. “Theo was quite happy to murder his friends if it meant he would survive. It’s almost as if he thought they wouldn’t mind giving up their lives for his.”
“That’s just arrogance,” Bryant replied. “He genuinely thinks he’s worth more than the others. But at night the truth must surely rise to the surface and terrify him.”
“Put your finger in here,” urged Daphne with a faint air of desperation. It had been a slow morning. Bryant did so distractedly, and she slammed down the guillotine on two carrots and the detective’s digit.
“I’m not so sure Theo has quite that level of self-realisation. He’s the kind of man who’ll go to jail and write endless newspaper articles about the experience afterwards. I wonder if that’s better – choosing never to wake from the dream.”
“Life is all a dream,” said Bryant, smiling gently. “A wonderful, wonderful dream. The object is to make everyone else who shares it with you as happy as possible.” He slowly opened his hand. In his palm was the sparkling diamond ring.
“An admirable sentiment,” May agreed, smiling back at his old friend. “Make sure you drop that into the evidence room. Come on, the weather’s supposed to clear up this afternoon. Let’s get out into the sunshine while we can.” He turned back to the disappointed magic assistant. “Thanks for the demonstration, Daphne. I think my colleague is going to try a different act. Perhaps he’ll take up tap dancing.”
They left the magic shop arm in arm, laughing.