‘One draws one’s own conclusions, of necessity, Mr Alleyn. Who else can it be?’

‘She was on rather uncertain terms with most of you, it appears?’

‘Ah yes, yes. But one does not perform murders from exasperation. Even Malmsley—’

Ormerin hesitated, grimaced, wagged his head sideways and was silent.

‘What about Mr Malmsley?’ asked Alleyn lightly.

‘It is nothing.’

‘By saying it is nothing, you know, you leave me with an impression of extreme significance. What was there between the model and Mr Malmsley?’

‘I have not been able to discover,’ said Ormerin rather huffily.

‘But you think there was something?’

‘She was laughing at him. On the morning of our experiment when Malmsley began to tease Sonia, pretending that the knife was still there, she entreated him to leave her alone, and when he would not she said: ‘I wouldn’t be too damn funny. Where is it that you discover your ideas, is it in books or pictures?’ He was very disconcerted and allowed his dirty brush to fall on his drawing. That is all. You see, I was right when I said it was nothing. Have you finished with me, Mr Alleyn?’

‘I think so, thank you. There will be a statement later on,’ said Alleyn vaguely. He looked at Ormerin, as though he wasn’t there, seemed to recollect himself, and got to his feet.

‘Yes, I think that’s all,’ he repeated.

‘I shall wish you good night then, Mr Alleyn.’

‘Good night,’ said Alleyn, coming to himself. ‘Good night, M. Ormerin.’

But when Ormerin had gone, Alleyn wandered about the room, whistled under his breath, and paid no attention at all to Fox or Nigel.

‘Look here,’ said Nigel at last, ‘I want to use a telephone.’

‘You?’

‘Yes. Don’t look at me as though I was a fabulous monster. I want to use the telephone, I say.’

‘What for?’

‘Ring up Angela.’

‘It’s eleven o’clock.’

‘That’s no matter. She’ll be up and waiting.’

‘You’re burning to ring up your odious newspaper.’

‘Well—I thought if I just said—’

‘You may say that there has been a fatal accident at Tatler’s End House, Bossicote, and that an artist’s model has died as the result of this accident. You may add that the authorities are unable to trace the whereabouts of the victim’s relatives and are anxious to communicate with Mr W. Garcia who is believed to be on a walking tour and may be able to give them some information about the model’s family. Something on those lines.’

‘And a fat lot of good—’ began Nigel angrily.

‘If Garcia is not our man,’ continued Alleyn to Fox, ‘and sees that, he may do something about it.’

‘That’s so,’ said Fox.

‘And now we’ll deal with the last of this collection, if you please, Fox. The languishing Malmsley.’

‘I’ll go to the telephone,’ said Nigel.