It's the 1930s now.'

Tommy said: 'Get in the car - look as though you're really interested.'

He opened the driver's door and Penny got in. Tommy went round to the far side, gathering up a couple of brochures from a nearby stand on the way, and sat in the passenger seat. 'I'll pretend to be going through all this technical stuff with you.'

'It's really comfy,' Penny said, leaning back in the seat. 'You'd think he'd let me have a car, wouldn't you? I mean, just because I gave his Daimler the teeny-weeniest dent the only time he let me drive it, he uses that as an excuse - says he's frightened I'd have an accident. It's the money, really, I'm sure.'

'He must have oodles, too.'

'He's absolutely rolling. And it's not as though he's got anyone - or anything - else to spend it on.'

'So, what's he do with it?'

'Just invests it. I think he gives a lot to good causes, as well.'

'Well, I'm a good cause. Wouldn't slip a few quid to me, would he? I've got all sorts of ripping ideas that just need a bit of capital.'

'There's not a chance of that, darling.'

'He doesn't like me, does he?'

Penny wriggled awkwardly. 'It's not that he doesn't like you. But he doesn't really approve of you. Thinks you should have trained for some proper profession.'

'It's all very well for brainy geezers like him. Can you see me as a lawyer or doctor or architect or something?'

Penny tried for a moment and failed.

'I think I'll turn to crime,' Tommy said gloomily.

'Don't be silly.'

'I'm not being silly. I've seriously thought about it. Oh, not anything that would hurt anybody, but where would be the harm in pinching something from somebody who'd never miss it? Just to put me on my feet.'

'You mustn't say things like that. I know you're joking, but other people wouldn't - people who don't know how you're always kidding and playing pranks and practical jokes. That's something else which puts Daddy off you.'

'That's just fun! They never harm anyone.'

'I know that. I think some of them are screamingly funny. But Daddy's got no sense of humour at all.'

'I say, I brought off an absolutely terrific wheeze a couple of weeks ago. This old chum of mine was working for a company owned by an absolute bounder. Name of Hodge. Frightfully rich, and he and his wife are the most appalling snobs. Anyway, he had an application for a job from the son of some marquis or other, old Etonian, and all that, but totally useless. Old Hodgepodge, though, couldn't resist having a gen-you-ine aristocrat on his staff, so to make room for him, he sacked my pal. No excuse, no apology, just a month's salary and out on his ear.'

'How rotten.'

'As you can imagine, he was pretty browned off and wanted to get his own back. He asked me if I had any ideas. So I put the jolly old brain-box to work and made a few enquiries. These people have got a big place in Sussex, swimming pool, acres of grounds. And it's on a main road to the coast. I found out they were planning a big garden party for the next Saturday - lavish open-air buffet, marquee, and so on. Asking all the toffs of the county.