‘I’ve mastered the radio course, and I’m on to Hugo’s Simplified now. I shouldn’t fancy an un-simplified, I must say. I can read it pretty steadily, Mr Alleyn, and Bob Thompson, the super at number three, has lent me one or two novels he picked up in Paris, on the understanding I translate the bits that would appeal to him. You know Bob.’ Fox opened his eyes wide and an expression of mild naughtiness stole over his healthy countenance. ‘I must say some of the passages are well up to expectation. Of course, you don’t find all those words in the dictionary, do you?’

‘You naughty old scoundrel,’ said Alleyn. ‘Go and get M. Ormerin.’

‘Tout sweet,’ said Fox. ‘There you are.’

‘And you’d better inquire after the Seacliff.’ Fox went out. ‘This case seems to be strewn with upheavals,’ said Alleyn. ‘Garcia was sick when he saw the defaced portrait. Sonia was sick in the mornings, and Miss Seacliff is heaving away merrily at this very moment, or I’m much mistaken.’

‘I begin to get an idea of the case,’ said Nigel, who had gone through his notes. ‘You’re pretty certain it’s Garcia, aren’t you?’

‘Have I said so? All right, then, I do feel tolerably certain he laid the trap for this girl, but it’s purely conjectural. I may be quite wrong. If we are to accept the statements of Miss Troy and Watt Hatchett, the knife was pushed through the boards some time after three o’clock on Friday afternoon, and before Saturday afternoon. Personally I am inclined to believe both these statements. That leaves us with Garcia and Malmsley as the most likely fancies.’

‘There’s—’

‘Well?’

‘Of course if you accept her statement it doesn’t arise,’ said Nigel nervously.

Alleyn did not answer immediately, and for some reason Nigel found that he could not look at him. Nigel ruffled the pages of his notes and heard Alleyn’s voice: ‘I only said I was inclined to believe Hatchett’s statement—and hers. I shall not regard them as inviolable.’

Fox returned with Francis Ormerin and once again they settled down to routine. Ormerin had attended the private view of the Phoenix Group Show on Friday night, and had spent the weekend with a French family at Hampstead. They had sat up till about two o’clock on both nights and had been together during the day-time.

‘I understand that during the bus drive back from London yesterday, the model sat beside you?’ said Alleyn.

‘Yes. That is so. This poor girl, she must always have her flirt in attendance.’

‘And you filled the rôle on this occasion?’

Ormerin pulled a significant grimace.

‘Why not? She makes an invitation with every gesture. It is a long and tedious drive. She is not unattractive. After a time I fell asleep.’

‘Did she say anything about her movements in London?’