‘You can understand that we want to collect any information that is at all likely to lead us to an arrest.’

‘I can understand that all right, all right.’

‘Well, Miss O’Dawne, this letter suggests that you may be able to give us this information. It suggests, at all events, that you may know more about the Sonia-Garcia situation than we do.’

‘I know all there was to know. She was going to have his kid, and he’d got sick of her. Pause for laugh. Laugh over.’

‘Isn’t there a bit more to it than that?’

‘How d’you mean?’

‘I think I may as well tell you that we know she got a hundred pounds from Mr Basil Pilgrim.’

‘Did he tell you?’

‘Yes. Was that the plan you refer to in this letter?’

‘Since you’re asking, Mr Clever, it was. Pilgrim’s had his fun and Sonia didn’t see why he shouldn’t pay for it.’

‘But the child was not Pilgrim’s?’

‘Oh no, dear, but for all he knew—’

‘Yes, I see. She said she’d go to his father if he didn’t pay up. Was that it?’

‘That was the big idea. Or to his girl. Sonia told me this boy Basil is a bit silly. You know—one of the purity song and dance experts. He must be a bit soft, from what she told me. Said his feeongsay thought he was as pure as her. Soft music and tears in the voice. Sonia said it was a big laugh, anyway, because the girl’s not so very very ongenoo either. Anyway, Basil was all worked up and gave Sonia the cheque.’

‘What did she do with his cheque?’

‘Oh, she cashed it and gave the money to Garcia, dear. What do you know about that? Could you beat it? I told her she was crazy. On Saturday when she was here I said: ‘Well, did it all go big?’ and she said this boy Basil came in on his cue all right, but she’d handed the money to Garcia and asked him if they couldn’t get married straight away. And Garcia started his funny business. He said a hundred quid wasn’t enough to marry with.’

‘Hadn’t she got anything out of Malmsley?’

‘Listen, Mr Blake, aren’t you wonderful? How did you get on to the Marmalade stuff?’

Alleyn folded his arms and raised his eyebrows.

‘“I have my methods,” said the great sleuth.’

‘Well, of course!’ exclaimed Miss O’Dawne, greatly diverted. ‘Aren’t you a yell!’

‘Please tell me,’ said Alleyn. ‘What happened when she offered to sell Malmsley his own book?’