They'd both fled in their own way, Maggie to the Hearts and Michael off Deck. "This is where we've lived long enough to claim to be old dogs." She laughs. "Old bitch for my part. I never was much good at tricks.

"Change comes from lower down. That's the problem people always make. I don't think Sean would have lasted so long after Domitian if he hadn't been an infinitesimal improvement." Sad she could admit that, but it was the truth. "Same can be said for David. Let's hope the new one continues the trend."