‘Believe you’re right, sir…He’s ill…Why—what’s the matter, sir?’

The other had drawn away his hand with an exclamation and was examining a red sticky smear.

‘Blood…’

The commissionaire gave a stifled exclamation.

He had caught sight of the corner of something yellow projecting from under the seat.

‘Gor blimey!’ he said. ‘It’s a b—A B C.’

Chapter 25

Not from Captain Hastings’ Personal Narrative

Mr Cust came out of the Regal Cinema and looked up at the sky.

A beautiful evening…A really beautiful evening…

A quotation from Browning came into his head.

‘God’s in His heaven. All’s right with the world.’

He had always been fond of that quotation.

Only there were times, very often, when he had felt it wasn’t true…

He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to the Black Swan where he was staying.

He climbed the stairs to his bedroom, a stuffy little room on the second floor, giving over a paved inner court and garage.

As he entered the room his smile faded suddenly. There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff. He touched it tentatively—wet and red—blood…

His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something—a long slender knife. The blade of that, too, was sticky and red…

Mr Cust sat there a long time.

Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal.

His tongue passed feverishly over his lips…

‘It isn’t my fault,’ said Mr Cust.

He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody—a schoolboy pleading to his headmaster.

He passed his tongue over his lips again…

Again, tentatively, he felt his coat sleeve.

His eyes crossed the room to the wash-basin.

A Minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin. Removing his coat, he rinsed the sleeve, carefully squeezing it out…

Ugh! The water was red now…

A tap on the door.

He stood there frozen into immobility—staring.

The door opened. A plump young woman—jug in hand.

‘Oh, excuse me, sir. Your hot water, sir.’

He managed to speak then.

‘Thank you…I’ve washed in cold…’

Why had he said that? Immediately her eyes went to the basin.

He said frenziedly: ‘I—I’ve cut my hand…’

There was a pause—yes, surely a very long pause—before she said: ‘Yes, sir.’

She went out, shutting the door.

Mr Cust stood as though turned to stone.

He listened.

It had come—at last…

Were there voices—exclamations—feet mounting the stairs?

He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart…

Then, suddenly, from frozen immobility he leaped into activity.

He slipped on his coat, tiptoed to the door and opened it. No noises as yet except the familiar murmur arising from the bar. He crept down the stairs…

Still no one. That was luck. He paused at the foot of the stairs. Which way now?

He made up his mind, darted quickly along a passage and out by the door that gave into the yard. A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering with cars and discussing winners and losers.