‘In that case,’ said Alleyn, ‘we’ll call on Captain and Mrs Pascoe at Boxover, where Pilgrim and Miss Seacliff spent the night. Run along, Bathgate. I want to talk to Inspector Fox. I’m most grateful for your work with Bobbie O’Dawne and I won’t tell your wife you spend your days with ladies of the chorus. Good evening.’

CHAPTER 19
Alleyn Makes a Pilgrimage

The inquest on the body of Sonia Gluck was held at Bossicote on the morning of Thursday, September 22nd. The court, as might have been expected, was jammed to the doors; otherwise the proceedings were as colourless as the coroner, a gentleman with an air of irritated incredulity, could make them. He dealt roundly with the witnesses and with the evidence, reducing everything by a sort of sleight-of-hand to a dead norm. One would have thought that models impaled on the points of poignards were a commonplace of police investigation. Only once did he appear to be at all startled and that was when Cedric Malmsley gave evidence. The coroner eyed Malmsley’s beard as if he thought it must be detachable, abruptly changed his own glasses, and never removed his outraged gaze from the witness throughout his evidence. The barest outline of the tragedy was brought out. Alleyn gave formal evidence on the finding of Garcia’s body, and the court was fraught with an unspoken inference that it was a case of murder and suicide. Alleyn asked for an adjournment, and the whole thing was over by eleven o’clock.

In the corridor Alleyn caught Fox by the arm.

‘Come on, Brer Fox. We’re for Boxover. The first stop in the pilgrimage. I’ve got my mother’s car—looks less official. It’s over there —wait for me, will you?’

He watched Fox walk away and then turned quickly into a side lane where Troy sat in her three-seater. Alleyn came up to her from behind, and she did not see him. She was staring straight in front of her. He stood there with his hat in his hands, waiting for her to turn her head. When at last she woke from her meditation and saw him, her eyes widened. She looked at him gravely and then smiled.

‘Hullo. It’s you,’ said Troy, ‘I’m waiting for Katti.’

‘I have to say a word to you,’ said Alleyn.

‘What is it?’

‘I don’t know. Any word. Are you all right?’

‘Yes, thank you.’

‘I’m afraid it’s difficult for you,’ said Alleyn, ‘having all these people still in the house. This second case made it necessary. We can’t let them go.’