The door opens at seven and the corridor beyond it is cold and ordinary, and the canvas is on the easel with the dust sheet folded on the floor.

CorvinaIt goes down the stair with me this morning or it does not go at all. There is no third way; the frost has broken the window for another year.

PorterThere is a third way. There is always a third way.

CorvinaThen you had better be quick about it, because the cart comes at eight.