‘It is pregnant with signification, I’m sure, Mr Hatchett,’ said Alleyn. Hatchett was silent. Alleyn looked at his notes and continued: ‘I understand that Miss Troy and Miss Bostock left by car. So did Miss Seacliff and Mr Pilgrim. Then came the bus party at three o’clock. Miss Lee, Mr Ormerin, Mr Hatchett, and the model. It seems,’ said Alleyn very deliberately, ‘that at a few minutes before three when Mr Hatchett left to catch the bus, the drape was still flat and crushed on the floor.’ He paused, contemplating Cedric Malmsley. ‘What did you do after the others had gone?’

Malmsley lit a cigarette and took his time over it.

‘Oh,’ he said at last, ‘I wandered down to the studio.’

‘When?’

‘Immediately after lunch.’

‘Did you look at the drape on the throne?’

‘I believe I did.’

‘How was it then?’

‘Quite well, I imagine. Just like a drape on a throne.’

‘Mr Malmsley,’ said Alleyn, ‘I advise you not to be too amusing. I am investigating a murder. Was the drape still flat?’

‘Yes.’

‘How long did you stay in the studio?’

‘I’ve told you. Until five.’

‘Alone with Mr Garcia?’

‘I’ve told you. Alone with Garcia.’

‘Did either of you leave the studio during the afternoon?’

‘Yes.’

‘Who?’

‘Garcia.’

‘Do you know why?’

‘I imagine it was to pay a visit to the usual offices.’

‘How long was he away?’

‘Dear me, I don’t know. Perhaps eight or ten minutes.’

‘When he worked, did he face the window?’

‘I believe so.’

‘With his back to the room?’

‘Naturally.’

‘Did you look at the drape before you left?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Did you touch the drape, Mr Malmsley?’

‘No.’

‘Who scrawled that appalling defacement on Miss Troy’s painting of a girl in green?’

There was an uneasy silence, broken at last by Troy.

‘You mean my portrait of Miss Seacliff. Sonia did that.’

‘The model?’ exclaimed Alleyn.

‘I believe so. I said we have all felt like murdering her. That was my motive, Mr Alleyn.’

CHAPTER 7
Alibi for Troy

Alleyn lifted a hand as if in protest. He checked himself and, after a moment’s pause, went on with his customary air of polite diffidence.

‘The model defaced your painting. Why did she do this?’

‘Because she was livid with me,’ said Valmai Seacliff. ‘You see, it was rather a marvellous painting. Troy was going to exhibit it. Sonia hated that. Besides, Basil wanted to buy it.’

‘When did she commit this—outrage?’ asked Alleyn.