‘I thought of that at once, naturally. I asked them. I begged them to tell me.’ Troy moved her long hands restlessly. ‘Anything,’ she said, ‘anything rather than the thought of one of them deliberately—there’s no reason. I—I can’t bear to think of it. As if a beastly unclean thing was in one of their minds, behind all of us. And then, suddenly, crawled out and did this.’

He heard her draw in her breath sharply. She turned her head away.

Alleyn swore softly.

‘Oh, don’t pay any attention to me,’ said Troy impatiently. ‘I’m all right. About Friday. We had the morning class as usual from ten o’clock to twelve-thirty, with that pose. We all lunched at one. Then we went up to London. The private view of the Phoenix Group Show was on Friday night, and several of us had things in it. Valmai Seacliff and Basil Pilgrim, who were engaged to be married, left in his two-seater immediately after lunch. Neither of them was going to the private view. They were going to his people’s place, to break the engagement news, I imagine. Katti Bostock and I left in my car at about half-past two. Hatchett, Phillida Lee and Ormerin caught the three o’clock bus. Malmsley wanted to do some work, so he stayed behind until six, went up in the six-fifteen bus and joined us later at the show. I believe Phillida Lee and Hatchett had a meal together and went to a show. She took him to her aunt’s house in London for the weekend, I fancy.’

‘And the model?’

‘Caught the three o’clock bus. I don’t know where she went or what she did. She came back with Malmsley, Ormerin, Hatchett and Phillida Lee by yesterday evening’s bus.’

‘When Friday’s class broke up, did you all leave the studio together and come up to the house?’

‘I—let me think for a moment. No, I can’t remember; but usually we come up in dribbles. Some of them go on working, and they have to clean up their palettes and so on. Wait a second. Katti and I came up together before the others. That’s all I can tell you.’

‘Would the studio be locked before you went to London’

‘No.’ Troy turned her head and looked squarely at him.

‘Why not?’ asked Alleyn.

‘Because of Garcia.’

‘Blackman told me about Garcia. He stayed behind, didn’t he?’

‘Yes.’

‘Alone?’

‘Yes,’ said Troy unhappily. ‘Quite alone.’

There was a tap at the door. It opened and Blackman appeared, silhouetted against the brightly lit hall.

‘The doctor’s here, Mr Alleyn, and I think the car from London is just arriving.’

‘Right,’ said Alleyn. ‘I’ll come.’

Blackman moved away. Alleyn rose and looked down at Troy in her armchair.

‘Perhaps I may see you again before I go?’