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loch in summer, you can see naked people sunbathing all over the place.’
    â€˜He was in the car park! ’ Ranald turned to Miss Pink. ‘Feller came galloping back to his car, starkers, couldn’t get in – no keys, d’you see – ran up to a couple, goodness knows what he said, they didn’t wait: chap started up and drove off like greased lightning. So the naked man disappears, comes back in a few minutes wearing a bin-liner!’
    â€˜What had happened?’ Miss Pink asked, more curious than amused.
    â€˜Dunno. Lost his clothes. Those Hell’s Angels were around – no doubt they stole ’em for a lark.’
    â€˜Who was the witness?’ she asked. Ranald stared. ‘Who told you the story? Someone had to be watching.’
    â€˜Another motorist was sitting in his car changing a film. He was in the pub that evening; next day the whole village knew.’
    â€˜So if he lost his clothes and his car keys, he lost his wallet too?’
    â€˜Evidently.’ Ranald sobered and stared at her in the silence. ‘And he didn’t report it to Knox,’ he said in wonder. ‘Why was that?’
    â€˜Are you sure he didn’t report it?’
    â€˜No,’ Flora said, ‘he didn’t. Hamish would have told me. He’s Knox’s son,’ she informed Miss Pink. ‘He helps with the ponies. The man got into his car eventually by breaking a window. There was a lot of that laminated glass in the car park; I was down there next day picking up litter.’
    â€˜You didn’t tell us,’ Ranald said, ‘It wasn’t important.’
    After the smoked salmon there was a saddle of venison and with it they drank a powerful burgundy. An association of ideas prompted Miss Pink to ask if the district nurse had enough work to keep her occupied.
    â€˜More than Knox has,’ Coline said. ‘There’s a lot of elderly people and she travels a long way south, and inland. In summer time, like everyone else, she can be overworked: anything from sunburn to adder bites. The nearest doctor is fifteen miles away, at Morvern. Have you met the nurse?’
    â€˜Not yet. I’ve seen her in the distance. Not young, I would say.’
    â€˜Middle-aged but sprightly. Quite a good nurse on the whole, wouldn’t you say, darling?’ Ranald shrugged. ‘She took some stitches out of my foot; that’s all the professional contact I’ve had. Haven’t heard any complaints. Pleasant enough woman socially; knows her place. What’s this?’ – as Esme brought a bowl to the table – ‘Blaeberry fool.’
    You’ll like that, Miss Pink. Cream from our own Jersey.’
    * * *
    The evening ended with Esme Dunlop insisting on walking Miss Pink home, an offer that could not be refused because they both went the same way. As they descended the drive by the light of torches, Esme took the older woman’s arm and squeezed it companionably. ‘It’s a bit rough,’ she said. ‘Can’t have you going down, can we?’
    Miss Pink stopped and detached herself, ‘I prefer to make my own way.’
    â€˜I didn’t mean to annoy you.’ They moved on slowly. ‘Do I intimidate you?’ Esme pressed with anxious curiosity.
    Miss Pink considered the question. ‘A little,’ she admitted. ‘I think you dislike being alone and you avoid the condition by cleaving to people who are stronger than yourself. It’s rather overpowering.’
    â€˜Rubbish. I’m a big hefty lady who crashes in where angels fear to tread and I scared the daylights out of you. Come on, own up. There are a lot of eccentric characters round here and you’ll have to learn to live with us.’ On the rough drive they wavered towards each other, touched and sheered away. ‘You come from an undemonstrative family, right?’ Esme’s tone was roguish.
    â€˜And you?’ Miss Pink