Nell: Don’t try and stop us.
Me: It’s a bad idea, Nell.
Nell: David and I are going to the island. Look at him, he’s bowed down with worry.
Me: He’s standing on the small table again.
Nell: He needs to be by the window.
Me: Yes, but not on the table.
Nell: His sister and his fiancé are missing. The poor animal is distraught.
Me: They’re not exactly missing. We’re fairly sure they’re at the Burgh Island Hotel.
Nell: Jim the Farm Dog isn’t happy.
Me: A farmer’s life isn’t an easy one.
Nell: No. The Beefies say a pretty chocolate brown Labrador was seen having dinner at the Burgh Island hotel with a lion.
Me: That lion is a proper gigolo.
Nell: That’s not the point. First Sally now Harriet.
Me: Exactly. The cheek of it.
Nell: What are she and Sally doing there?
Me: Harriet left a message telling us not to worry and she’ll be in touch.
Nell: That was yesterday.
Me: She’s probably busy.
Nell: Doing what?
Me: Having dinner with lions.
Nell: We don’t even know who the lion is.
Me: It’s obviously Lionel King.
Nell: There’s more than one lion, you know.
Me: Not living at the Burgh Island Hotel with a penchant for a pretty lady, especially one who’s out of bounds.
Nell: What do you mean?
Me: Lionel enjoys causing mayhem. Ask Rupert.
Nell: What’s Rupert got to do with this?
Me: Lionel is constantly trying to steal you away from him.
Nell: Nonsense.
Me: You know it and I know it. I hope this isn’t all about you, Nell.
Nell: About me?
Me: Maybe Lionel is trying to make you jealous?
Nell: Ridiculous.
Me: And maybe he’s succeeding?
Nell: Sally and Harriet wouldn’t be involved in that.
Me: No. Sorry.
