‘As a matter of fact, it wasn’t very much, but it was exciting. Garcia said: “All right—on Friday night, then.” And Sonia said: “Yes, if it’s possible.” Then there was quite a long pause and she said: “I won’t stand for any funny business with her, you know,” And Garcia said: “Who?” and she said—I’m sorry, Mr Alleyn —but she said: “The Seacliff bitch, of course.”’ Miss Lee turned pink. ‘I am sorry, Mr Alleyn.’

‘Miss Seacliff will understand the exigencies of a verbatim report,’ said Alleyn with the faintest possible twinkle.

‘Oh, I’ve heard all about it. She knew what he was up to, of course,’ said Valmai Seacliff. She produced a lipstick and mirror and, with absorbed attention, made up her lovely mouth.

‘Why didn’t you tell me the swine was pestering you?’ Pilgrim asked her.

‘My sweet—I could manage Garcia perfectly well,’ said Seacliff with a little chuckle.

‘Anything more, Miss Lee?’ asked Alleyn.

‘Well, yes. Sonia suddenly began to cry and say Garcia ought to marry her. He said nothing. She said something about Friday evening again, and she said if he let her down after that she’d go to Troy and tell her the whole story. Garcia just said—Mr Alleyn, he just sort of grunted it, but honestly it sounded frightful. Truly. And she didn’t say another thing. I think she was terrified—really!’

‘But you haven’t told us what he did say, you know.’

‘Well, he said: “If you don’t shut up and leave me to get on with my work, I’ll bloody well stop your mouth for keeps. Do what I tell you. Get out!” There!’ ended Miss Lee triumphantly.

‘Have you discussed this incident with anyone else?’

‘I told Seacliff, in confidence.’

‘I advised her to regard it as nobody’s business but theirs,’ said Seacliff.

‘Well—I thought somebody ought to know.’

‘I said,’ added Seacliff, ‘that if she still felt all repressed and congested, she could tell Troy.’

‘Did you follow this excellent advice, Miss Lee?’

‘No—I didn’t—because—well, because I thought—I mean—’

‘I have rather sharp views on gossip,’ said Troy dryly. ‘And even sharper views on listening-in. Possibly she realized this.’ She stared coldly at Miss Lee, who turned very pink indeed.

‘How did this incident terminate?’ asked Alleyn.

‘Well, I made a bangy sort of noise with the door to show I was there, and they stopped. And I didn’t eavesdrop, Miss Troy, truly. I was just rooted to the ground with horror. It all sounded so sinister. And now see what’s happened!’

Troy looked up at Alleyn. Suddenly she grinned, and Alleyn felt a sort of thump in his chest. ‘Oh God,’ he thought urgently, ‘what am I going to do about this? I didn’t want to lose my heart.’ He looked away quickly.