Me: Look at Dave. He’s fallen asleep between my chair and the sofa.
Nell: He’s supposed to be on Surveillance Duty.
Me: I don’t need surveying. Harriet is literally sitting on me.
Nell: It’s not about you.
Me: Good.
Nell: David is supposed to be keeping a close eye on the Veiled Corgi, who’s not outside, by the way, so I don’t know why he’s looking out of the window.
Me: I know. I saw Rupert drive away with her in his sidecar earlier this morning.
Nell: You can’t have done.
Me: Why?
Nell: She’s having Eggs Benedict in the kitchen.
Me: Very posh.
Nell: That’s not the point.
Me: No.
Nell: You must have seen another veiled animal.
Me: I know a Veiled Corgi when I see one, which isn’t something I ever expected to say.
Nell: It might have been a Bichon Frise.
Me: It was definitely her. Rupert lifted her gently into the sidecar and drove off.
Nell: I don’t understand.
Me: It’s easy. There must be two of them.
Nell: Clever.
Me: Thank you.
Nell: Not you. The Veiled Corgis. They’re obviously working together.
Me: And Knitwear Wolf?
Nell: That’s harder to accept.
Me: Have you ever considered they might just be grieving?
Nell: Nobody asks for Eggs Benedict when they’re grieving.
Me: It’s not the most obvious choice of egg, I agree.
Nell: I’m afraid we’re going to have to move to Phase Two.
Me: What’s that?
Nell: Removing the Veil and I know just the animal to do it.
Me: Manuel? He has the tentacles for it.
Nell: No. David.
Me: My darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy?
Nell: Yes. He can steal a tea towel from someone’s shoulder without them noticing.
Me: True.
Nell: So a veil should be no problem.
Me: Right. Sorry.
