3 Colin knew that Felicity's suggestion about going ex-directory was a good one but he had always prided himself on being accessible , and until now it had not been a problem .sx The possibility of further annoyance should be prevented if Adams could not get through on the telephone .sx He would not dare approach the house , for if he attempted any personal aggravation he would be arrested instantly , and would know that the word of a judge would prevail in any argument against that of a convicted man .sx Had he been in touch with Mrs Kent , started annoying her ?sx It was possible , though the judge must be his target .sx It seemed he bore a grudge which might have lain dormant but for their accidental meeting and the chance it gave Adams to exploit what he had stumbled on .sx He might try writing letters .sx Felicity would tell him , if any came addressed to her .sx Wouldn't she ?sx He frowned , not certain .sx What if there had been other calls , apart form the one referring to Mr Baxter ?sx He dared not ask her , for if it had been an isolated incident , she would be curious and wonder what had provoked his question .sx How easy it would be to dismiss all this if the call had been , in fact , meaningless .sx As it was , he couldn't .sx Meanwhile Felicity , too , was wondering at her own reticence .sx Why had she not told Colin everything , shown him the letters ?sx Was it because she knew he was being evasive and that the anonymous correspondent and caller might reveal something in Colin's life to his discredit ?sx Either it was all nonsense or Colin knew a Mrs Kent , a Mr Baxter , and a Willow House which , most probably , was in Witherstone .sx She had looked the town up on a map ; it was a little way off the route Colin would take when he went to his trustee meetings and stayed with Peter .sx Or did he stay with Peter ?sx She could not telephone Peter to enquire ; she knew neither his surname nor the name of his firm .sx It would be difficult to track him down , impossible without asking Colin about him and why should she do that now , so suddenly , after all this time ?sx Besides , the idea of spying on her husband was repellent .sx She decided to keep her secret .sx With the telephone number changed , they would be protected from more calls , so the man would have to write , if he meant to make more mischief .sx If another letter came , she would think about telling Colin .sx The next few days were uneventful .sx Colin came and went to court as usual , leaving home early to attend meetings with probation officers before the court sat , never back before six because he was not one of those judges who rushed off at the official closing hour of four o'clock ; if a case could be wound up , witnesses sent home instead of staying overnight , under Colin's jurisdiction , it was done .sx Mrs Turner had to be told about the telephone and given the new number .sx She was pleased about the arrangement ; anonymous calls were unpleasant , even when not lewd .sx Felicity had explained that there had been others besides the cryptic one about Mr Baxter .sx " You can't be too careful , " Mrs Turner said as they sat together at the kitchen table cleaning the silver .sx This was a monthly session they both enjoyed when Mrs Turner would relate the latest gossip from the town , and the news of Betty in her salon .sx An actress who appeared in a television comedy series had become a regular client , which was good for business ; she wore her hair cropped short at present , rinsed a brilliant copper colour , and came in each week .sx " She used to live on a council estate not far from where they are , until she hit the big time , " said Mrs Turner , polishing away .sx " You never know your luck .sx " .sx " Up one minute , down the next , isn't it , in that world ?sx " Felicity said .sx " Unles you're that Meryl Streep , " said Mrs Turner .sx " She's always up .sx " .sx Felicity was not sure if she had seen her perform .sx She seldom went to the cinema , and never with the judge .sx Mrs Turner thought it was dreadful that there was no video in Waite House , but neither was there a microwave , and only a small freezer on top of the fridge .sx And no dishwasher , either , though if they had one of those , Mrs Turner would not be asked to help on dinner party nights , and that would be a sad deprivation for her .sx All the same , the judge must earn a lot of money and should be able to provide his wife with these modern assets , all of which Betty and Zoe had in their flat .sx Mrs Turner thought that there would be every modern aid in the Queen's various residences , though she would hardly need a personal microwave , unless she and the Duke had cosy snacks together on an informal evening .sx It was unlikely , she supposed .sx She was sorry for Felicity , and yet wondered at her pity , for the judge's wife lacked nothing you could call essential .sx She wore nice clothes ; they ate good food ; she had a lovely house and pretty garden in which Joe Green , with whom Mrs Turner had walked out before meeting Mr Turner , worked for a day a week and more when it was needed .sx In winter he was paid a retaining wage , and sometimes washed the car or swept the yard .sx Mrs Turner came to help when Felicity had to take her turn at entertaining groups of ladies to luncheon , and always admired how calmly her employer took these occasions ; in her turn , Felicity was fortified by the knowledge that she had the support of Mrs Turner in the background , and because of her early training , she knew that the food would be as good as any produced by rival hostesses .sx Mrs Turner enjoyed hearing the conversation as she bustled round collecting plates .sx She had been known to wait at table in the evening , when the guests were those the judge had wanted asked .sx Then she had worn a plain black dress and a muslin apron , and had looked extremely grand .sx " Your help's so regal , Felicity .sx Aren't you terrified of her ?sx " one of Felicity's acquaintances , married to a marketing executive , had enquired .sx " Not in the least , " Felicity had answered , with some hauteur .sx Her questioner shrugged .sx Felicity was an odd woman , rather prickly and very reserved .sx She never joined in gossip about people they all knew - who was ill , whose child was not doing well at school , who had moved in with a lover or was getting divorced , whose husband was suspected of an affair - which formed much of their conversation .sx Political discussion often led to argument , and mention of incomes was taboo , but they discussed local planning decisions , which were often incomprehensible , plays they had seen , who was building a conservatory and whose parents were ill , requiring care .sx It seemed to Mrs Turner that Felicity never had people to the house because she liked them and enjoyed their company ; there was always some purpose behind these gatherings .sx " Who would you be friends with , if you choose ?sx " Mrs Turner asked her one day .sx She knew that after so much time together in their working relationship , this was not a liberty .sx " What a strange question !sx " Felicity looked in surprise at Mrs Turner , who sat rubbing away a silver box which Colin had been given when he left his chambers to become a judge .sx " Who would you ?sx " she countered .sx " Oh , I do choose my friends , " said Mrs Turner comfortably .sx Her hair was looking particularly smooth and even today , waved symmetrically back from her forehead .sx She had told Felicity that Betty was always trying to persuade her to have it restyled in a more modern manner , but she would not agree .sx The Queen and she had both chosen this style in their youth and both were sticking with it now .sx " There's Doris Jones , for instance , who I go away with , and Mary Plumb , and the Fosters - " She ran off a list of people she had known for years .sx " Some of us were at school together , " she said .sx " That's what comes of staying in the same neighbourhood most of your life .sx There's plenty of folk about .sx You don't have to bother with those you've got nothing in common with - not unless they're family .sx You can't choose them , of course .sx " .sx " True , " said Felicity .sx " You and the judge don't get that freedom , " Mrs Turner observed .sx " Seeing who you are .sx You can't be having just anybody in for a meal .sx " .sx " Why not if I liked them ?sx " Felicity challenged , smiling .sx " Well , " Mrs Turner contemplated a silver photograph frame surrounding a picture of the judge's mother .sx " Pretty , wasn't she ?sx " she said , at a tangent , and then went on , " Oil and water can't be mixed .sx " .sx " Well , I don't suppose the judge would be too pleased if I asked a few ex-prisoners in , " said Felicity .sx " But you wouldn't be doing that , either .sx " .sx " Not knowingly , " agreed Mrs Turner .sx " But who's to say what folk have done long ago ?sx I wouldn't have any of your murderers and that , but we've all scrumped apples in our time , haven't we ?sx And you've got to start trusting them some time , if they're ever to go straight .sx The thieves , I mean , the petty criminals .sx " She told Felicity about some cases she knew of in the town , a man who had failed to pay a fine and so was gaoled , and another who was a bigamist .sx " He couldn't bring himself to upset either of them by telling them about the other .sx " She was laughing as she spoke .sx " One lived here , and the other one lived in Dorset , where he went for weekends .sx " .sx " How complicated , " said Felicity .sx " You'd think they'd get suspicious .sx " .sx " Yes , you would .sx He was a commercial traveller , a rep they call them nowadays .sx I suppose that was how he got about .sx He was caught by some tax check , I think , " said Mrs Turner .sx " We've all got so many numbers now , no one can get really lost .sx " .sx She enjoyed making Felicity laugh during their conversations ; she laughed too little , Mrs Turner thought .sx Yet how could she be unhappy , with so much to enjoy and the judge , though a bit stiff , always polite .sx Mrs Turner thought he could never have been very dashing , even when young - not a patch on the Duke , for instance , who was still a fine-looking man - and you'd never take him for what he was if you met him just anywhere .sx You'd think he was a bank manager , perhaps ; something responsible , but hardly someone important .sx After Mrs Turner left , Felicity thought about the bigamist she had mentioned , with the wife in Dorset and the one in Rambleton .sx Colin couldn't have a wife in Witherstone , but Mrs Kent could be a mistress .sx Unlikely as it seemed , such things were possible .sx But who was Mr Baxter ?sx And who was the mysterious caller ?sx If she could drive and had a car , she'd go to Witherstone and investigate .sx The place itself was real enough .sx Perhaps Directory Enquiries would tell her if a Mrs Kent lived in Witherstone .sx What would she do , if that proved to be the case ?sx She decided to put it to the test .sx First , she asked for a Mr Baxter in the area .sx She could provide no address apart from Witherstone , and Enquiries came up with two Baxters , one a butcher and one a private person .sx Felicity wrote down the details .sx Then she tried asking for Mrs Kent , possibly of Willow House , and straight away Enquiries gave her J. Kent , of that address .sx Procrastinating , because amazed , her heart thudding , blood pounding in her temples , Felicity asked if there were any others , and was told of M. W. Kent .sx She dialled the number for Willow House but there was not reply .sx Having got so far , she could not leave it there .sx She dialled the other number , and a man replied .sx " Is Mrs Kent in ?sx " she asked calmly .sx " Yes , " said the voice .sx