There are times when I confess that Mutt does worry me a little. I realise that given his background he is unlikely to be charming, sweet and innocent, (unless of course these three qualities are temporarily advantageous.) After all, I too lived most of my young life on the street and it is not a world that repays innocence. Still I have known elderly dowagers who were less cynical and vengeful than Mutt.

If you are unsure of what I mean, I shall merely recount the incident of the Finsal the balladeer. Provided you had a penchant for empty-headed and womanising lute players, Finsal was a fine fellow. People commented that he’d never done a day’s work in his life, but given the amount of time he would have to spend washing and combing his hair, that is to be expected. I had worked with him from time to time…