When Fox had gone upstairs and Nigel had been left to write a very guarded story for his paper on one of Troy’s scribbling-pads, Alleyn went down the hall and into the dining-room. He found the whole class in a state of extreme dejection. Phillida Lee, Ormerin and Watt Hatchett were seated at the table and had the look of people who have argued themselves to a standstill. Katti Bostock, hunched on the fender, stared into the fire. Malmsley was stretched out in the only armchair. Valmai Seacliff and Basil Pilgrim sat on the floor in a dark corner with their arms round each other. Curled up on a cushion against the wall was Troy—fast asleep. The local constable sat on an upright chair inside the door.

Katti looked up at Alleyn and then across to Troy.

‘She’s completely done up,’ said Katti gruffly. ‘Can’t you let her go to bed?’

‘Very soon now,’ said Alleyn.

He walked swiftly across the room and paused, his head bent down, his eyes on Troy.

Her face looked thin. There were small shadows in the hollows of her temples and under her eyes. She frowned, her hands moved, and suddenly she was awake.

I’m so sorry,’ said Alleyn.

‘Oh, it’s you,’ said Troy. ‘Do you want me?’

‘Please. Only for a moment, and then I shan’t bother you again tonight.’

Troy sat up, her hands at her hair, pushing it off her face. She rose but lost her balance. Alleyn put his arm out quickly. For a moment he supported her.

‘My legs have gone to sleep,’ said Troy. ‘Damn!’

Her hand was on his shoulder. He held her firmly by the arms and wondered if it was Troy or he who trembled.

‘I’m all right now,’ she said, after an hour or a second. ‘Thank you.’ He let her go and spoke to the others.

‘I am very sorry to keep you all up for so long. We have had a good deal to do. Before you go to your rooms we should like to have a glance at them. I hope nobody objects to this.’

‘Anything, if we can only go to bed,’ said Katti, and nobody contradicted her.

‘Very well, then. If you—’ he turned to Troy—‘wouldn’t mind coming with me—’

‘Yes, of course.’

When they were in the hall she said: ‘Do you want to search our rooms for something? Is that it?’

‘Not for anything specific. I feel we should just—’ He stopped short. ‘I detest my job,’ he said; ‘for the first time I despise and detest it.’

‘Come on,’ said Troy.

They went up to a half-landing where the stairs separated into two short flights going up to their left and right.

‘Before I forget,’ said Alleyn, ‘do you know what has happened to the bottle of nitric acid that was on the top shelf in the junk-room?’

Troy stared at him.