Alleyn turned away from her and leant his arms on the mantelpiece. Troy blew her nose violently.

‘My mother’s so happy about my picture,’ said Alleyn to the fire. ‘She says it’s the best present she’s ever had. She said, if you’ll forgive the implication, that you must know all about the subject. I suppose that’s the sort of lay remark that is rather irritating to a craftsman for whom the model must be a collection of forms rather than an individual.’

‘Bosh!’ said Troy down her nose and behind his handkerchief.

‘Is it? I’m always terrified of being highfalutin about pictures. The sort of person, you know, who says: “The eyes follow you all round the room.” It would be so remarkably rum if they didn’t when the model has looked into the painter’s eyes, wouldn’t it? I told my mamma about the thing you did at Suva. She rather fancies her little self about pictures. I think her aesthetic taste is pretty sound. Do you know she remembered the Pol de Limbourge thing that Malmsley cribbed, for one of his illustrations.’

‘What!’ exclaimed Troy loudly.

‘Didn’t you spot it?’ asked Alleyn, without turning. ‘That’s one up to the Alleyn family, isn’t it? The drawing of the three little medieval reapers in front of the château; it’s Sainte Chapelle, really, I think—do you remember?’

‘Golly, I believe you’re right,’ said Troy. She gave a dry sob, blew her nose again, and said: ‘Are there any cigarettes on the mantelpiece?’

Alleyn gave her a cigarette and lit it for her. When he saw her face, marred by tears, he wanted almost overwhelmingly to kiss it.

‘Little serpent!’ said Troy.

‘Who—Malmsley?’

‘Yes. Malmsley of all people, with his beard and his precicosity.’

‘There’s no such word as precicosity.’

‘There may be.’

‘It’s preciosity if it’s anything.’

‘Well, don’t be a scold,’ said Troy. ‘Did you face Malmsley with this?’

‘Yes. He turned as red as a rose.’

Troy laughed.

‘What a doody-flop for Cedric,’ she said.

‘I must get on with my odious job,’ said Alleyn. ‘May I use your telephone?’

‘Yes, of course. There’ll be an inquest, won’t there?’

‘Tomorrow, I think. It won’t be so bad. Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye.’

He turned at the doorway and said: ‘Lady Alleyn’s compliments to Miss Troy, and if Miss Troy would like to sample the amenities of Danes Lodge, Lady Alleyn will be very happy to offer them.’

‘Your mother is very kind,’ said Troy, ‘but I think it would be better not. Will you thank her from me? Please say I am very grateful indeed.’

Alleyn bowed.

‘I’m grateful to you too,’ said Troy.

‘Are you? That is rather dangerously nice of you. Goodbye.’

CHAPTER 15
Lady of the Ensemble