Summary

M tells Jeffers about life with Justine and Kurt, who were between jobs and therefore temporarily dependent on their hospitality. Kurt had a sarcastic, superior air but he soon attached himself to the no-nonsense Tony, who made him useful around the grounds. M and Tony drove to the harbor town to collect L. They were waiting for him to arrive by boat, but it turned out he had spent the night in the town, having been dropped off the day before in a private plane. When M held out her hand to L, he brought forward a beautiful young woman called Brett, who shook her hand instead. The unexpected presence of Brett (whose billionaire cousin had provided the plane) flummoxed and intimidated M. Brett dominated the conversation while L remained in the background, and M felt acutely conscious of herself and Tony appearing...