"A writer who deserves to be admired and cherished." - Francis King "[O]ne of the most original novelists of his generation. His delicate, witty prose ably evokes the atmosphere of south London in which the story is set." - British Book News "[I]ntriguing . . . Short, firmly written, and agreeably unpretentious." - The Guardian Francis Norton is an elderly bachelor who enjoys nothing better than spending a warm day outside in one of London"s parks. When one afternoon he innocently overhears the earnest conversation of two young lovers, Edward and Mirrie, whose relationship is complicated by Edward"s unhappy marriage to a drunken wife, Francis decides to interfere in an attempt to help the pair. But despite his good intentions, his matchmaking efforts have unexpected consequences, and he soon finds himself caught up in a complicated triangle involving blackmail, a mysterious death, and courtroom intrigue. Will Francis"s well-meaning manipulations lead to a...