For most of her twenty-two years, Sophie Vitez had lived happily on Mazurka, a Thames houseboat. She was, she declared, a “river person” - much to the disapproval of Edward Matheson, her friend and boss. But her blissful existence was threatened when, after a visit by the Immigration Department, it seemed she had no right to stay in the country. Edward’s reaction was astonishing - overwhelming. Why was this elegant man with his beautiful house and settled way of life prepared to go to such lengths to help her?