‘It’d all be easier with your co-operation,’ I said.

She gave a short laugh. ‘Why should I make it easier for you to snoop on me?’

I was genuinely surprised and nearly choked on the smoke. ‘You? I’m not investigating you.’

‘What then?’

‘I can’t tell you,’ I said weakly.

She stirred in her chair. ‘You’re a cheap liar. Snoop away, I’ve got nothing to hide.’

‘Why do you stay here?’

‘So that’s it,’ she snarled. ‘You’re going to harass me. It won’t work. I’m staying until I get what’s due to me.’ She was short-fused and fierce burning.

‘And what’s that?’ I asked quietly.

‘Money. What else? Bonuses and money promised. That old bugger.. ’ Her mouth clamped down and she drew in breath as if to recall the words. She glared at me. I put the cigarette out carefully in a glass ashtray.

‘I want you to tell me all you can about the man who called here about two years ago, the one who looked like a tramp.’

It was her turn to look surprised. ‘Why?’

‘Just tell me.’

She thought about it, calculating the odds like a street fighter. ‘I remember him,’ she said slowly. ‘Dreadful smell.’

‘Was he violent?’

‘A bit. Not too much. He was too drunk to be a danger to anyone except himself.’

‘What happened? Did he just walk in? What about this chauffeur — he didn’t try to stop him?’

‘I assume he was bribed. He was a miserable dishonest wretch. That’s why I sacked him.’

‘Over this incident?’

‘Not specifically. There were a lot of things. Expenses connected with the car, using it himself. He was a cheap crook.’ She looked me directly in the eye when she said it so we were back to square one. I grunted.

‘Back to this derelict. Can you describe him?’