'I'm sorry, Mr Hardy,' she said after I'd given her the itemised account, 'I've neglected you.'
'A cheque will repair my damaged feelings.'
'You don't like me.'
'I never did. It doesn't matter.'
She chewed that over, decided not to work against it, and wrote me a cheque for the amount outstanding.
'William and I are reconciled,' she said.
'That's nice. Pity he didn't thank Frank for saving his life.'
'He says it was a slight wound, scarcely worse than mine.'
I laughed. I could imagine William saying just that. He'd tell her whatever he thought she'd want to hear for just as long as it suited him. And no longer.
'You don't like him either.'
'Neither does his probable father.'
'That's a pity. As I say, we're close again. William didn't commit any crimes in his association with Matthew Sawtell.'
'Not that anyone could prove. He came close, probably did.'
'He lost money, of course, but I have plenty as you can see.' She waved her hand at the furniture and fittings. 'We're going into the fashion business together. With my contacts and William's charm and language skills, I'm sure we will be successful.'
'Good luck,' I said, but I didn't mean it, though it would be interesting to see which one of them came out on top.