"Sorry!" Mathilda said, surprised to find herself oddly shaken. "I didn't mean it."
He gave a short laugh, as though he thought what she had said to be of no account. "Do you think I did it, Mathilda?"
She took a cigarette from her case, and lit it. "In spite of all the evidence piling up against you, no."
"Thanks. I imagine you're practically alone in your opinion."
"There is one person besides myself who knows you didn't do it."
"Very neat," he approved. "Ever been watched by the police? Most unnerving performance."
"I suppose we're all under supervision."
"Not you, my girl: you're not a suspect."
She decided that her cigarette tasted of garbage, and pitched it into the fire. "It's you who can't take it, Stephen. You talk as though Black Maria was at the door, but I maintain that the police haven't got enough evidence even to detain you."
"I hope you're right. I may add in passing that if I'd wanted to murder anyone I'd have started on Joe."