DJ and AJ had supposedly downsized to a modern house on the mainland. When we visited their new place, however, we found that they were now living in a gorgeous mansion furnished almost entirely with Chinese antiques. We had clearly underestimated their vast wealth.

I pointed to a beautiful oil painting of AJ when she was young and asked about the artist. She was surprised that I had forgotten that we had given her the picture as a wedding present.

TPR wanted to tell AJ and DJ about our forthcoming trip to visit AH and CS in France, but I managed to stop him just in time. TPR had completely forgotten that AJ had once spent a night with AH. It was important that DJ should never know about this indiscretion.

To mention AH’s name would risk a distressing revelation that would embarrass our kind hosts immensely.