That evening my father sent a message consisting of six words: We need to settle this privately.

I read it twice, then forwarded it to Maren without replying.

For once, privacy would not mean silence forced on the person with the least power.

After dinner, I told Richard I was afraid he would eventually get tired of helping.

He seemed surprised.

‘We may get tired,’ he said.

‘We might even disagree.

But neither of those things is the same as leaving.’