Miriam was woken by a strange noise in the middle of the night. She nudged her snoring husband. ‘Max, wake up! There’s a burglar in the house!’

‘All right,’ said Max unconcerned, ‘so there’s a burglar in the house. Go back to sleep.’

‘Max’ persisted Miriam, ‘don’t you understand? Somebody has broken in.’

‘Keep quiet!’ hissed Max. ‘You know very well we have nothing worthy stealing. You want me to go downstairs and admit it to a total stranger? Have you no shame?’