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‘First, you must experience a little Italian hospitality We will have lunch at Casina Valadier before dropping into the Borghese, and you will still be in time to catch the five twenty to London’

‘But my expenses won’t—’

‘You’re in Italy, reat service for the Italian people You et quite so worked up in Italy about expenses as you English’

Clearly they didn’t have a Mrs Walter to contend with, thought William

‘Perhaps you ht care to take a look at this,’ said Monti, as he handed Willia document

Williaood,’ he admitted

‘Then I will have to take you through it, line by line over lunch, because I need to know if you wish us to grant Mr Carter’s application for the licence, or whether Scotland Yard would prefer us to turn his request down’

Williareeted with, ‘Hello, stranger, what’s your excuse this time?’

‘I’ve been to Rome’

‘To visit another woman?’

‘Napoleon’s sister’

‘She’s quite cold, I’m told’

‘Asdown to kiss her, but he only brushed her lips, as she turned away

‘Not until I’ve heard Pauline’s side of the story,’ Beth said, as she led hih to the kitchen

Over dinner he told her everything that had happened since he’d last seen her, including a memorable meal at Casina Valadier and an afternoon spent with Antonio Monti at the Borghese