Me: That was a really good long walk.
Nell: Yes, it was.
Me: Along our beach and then right around to River Beach where we walk in the summer and up to our bench overlooking the thatched pink boathouse.
Nell: Someone is staying there.
Me: Yes, I saw the door was open and there were fairy lights.
Nell: Did you notice who it was?
Me: No, I was too far away.
Nell: Just wondered.
Me: Do you know something I don’t?
Nell: Probably, all things considered.
Me: You know what I mean. About the boathouse?
Nell: I thought I saw a tail, if you must know.
Me: What kind of tail?
Nell: A distinctive kind of tail.
Me: Feathery?
Nell: No.
Me: It wasn’t a tufted tail, was it?
Nell: It might have been.
Me: It’s that wretched lion again, isn’t it? He’s back.
Nell: I don’t think he ever really went anywhere.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: The last letter I received was on headed notepaper from The Burgh Island Hotel so he’s obviously been staying there.
Me: Do you mean to say you’ve been exchanging letters with Lionel King all this time?
Nell: I never wrote back.
Me: I hope not.
Nell: Lionel has been writing to me for ages. The odd postcard and letter. Sometimes a text.
Me: He’s a bad lion, Nell.
Nell: I know. I thought it best to keep communication lines open. Henry and Horst agreed.
Me: What have Henry and Horst got to do with it?
Nell: They picked up some useful information about Lionel and the Beefies at the Winged Insect Conference.
Me: What was it?
Nell: It’s Highly Confidential. FSEO.
Me: Frightful Secrets about Enemy Operators?
Nell: No. For Sally’s Eyes Only. She’s arriving tomorrow.
Me: Oh, I see. Sorry.
