‘Yes. Gentleman by the name of Gregory. He used to look in here pretty often. He once took a picture of this show. What a thing to want to take a photo of, I said, but he seemed to enjoy it. I wouldn’t have the patience myself.’

‘Is he in his studio this afternoon?’

‘Hasn’t been there for three months. He’s in Hong Kong.’

‘Indeed,’ murmured Alleyn, and he thought: ‘Easy now. Don’t flutter the brute.’

‘Yes. In Hong Kong taking pictures of the Chinks.’

‘Would he sublet, do you know?’

‘I don’t know whether he would but he can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because he promised the loan of it to someone else.’

‘I see. Then somebody else is using it?’

‘That’s where the funny part comes in. He isn’t. Never turned up.’

‘Gosh!’ thought Alleyn.

‘Never turned up,’ repeated Mr McCully. ‘As a matter of fact I asked the boss only yesterday if I might store some bits of furniture there during Christmas because the wife and I are moving and it’s a bit awkward what with this and that and the other thing—’

He rambled on. Alleyn listened with an air of sympathetic attention.

‘…so the boss said it would be all right if this other chap didn’t turn up, but all Mr Gregory said was that he’d offered the room to this other chap and given him the key, and he’d just come in when he wanted it. So that’s how it stands.’

‘What was this other man’s name, do you know?’

‘Have I heard it now?’ ruminated Mr McCully, absently accepting another of Alleyn’s cigarettes. ‘Wait a bit now. It was a funny sort of name. Reminded me of something. What was it? By crikey, I remember. It reminded me of the rubbish van—you know—the chaps that come round for the garbage tins.’

‘Garbage?’

‘Garbage—that’s the name. Or nearly.’

‘Something like Garcia, perhaps.’ And Alleyn thought: ‘Has he read the evening paper or hasn’t he?’

‘That’s it! Garcia! Well, fancy you getting it. Garcia! That’s the chap. Garcia.’ Mr McCully laughed delightedly.

Alleyn stood up.

‘Look here,’ he said, ‘I wish you’d just let me have a look at this place, will you? In case there is a chance of my getting it.’

‘Well, I suppose there’s nothing against that. The boss is away just now, but I don’t see how he could object. Not that there’s anything to see. We don’t go near it from one week to another. I’ll just get our key and take you along. Fred!’

‘Hooray?’ said a voice in the workshop.

‘I’m going round to the shed. Back before knock-off.’

‘Right-oh.’