‘I don’t believe it’s true. I don’t believe the child was mine. Everybody knows what sort of girl she was. Poor little devil! I don’t want to blackguard her after this has happened, but I can see what you’re driving at now, and it’s a serious business for me. If I’d thought the child was my affair, I’d have looked after Sonia, but everybody knows she’s been Garcia’s mistress for months. She was poisonously jealous of Valmai, and after our engagement was announced she threatened this as a hit at Valmai.’

‘How was the matter first broached?’

‘She left a note in the pocket of my painting-coat. I don’t know how long it had been there. I burnt it. She said she wanted me to meet her somewhere.’

‘Did you do this?’

‘Yes. I met her in the studio one evening. It was pretty ghastly.’

‘What happened?’

‘She said she was going to have a baby. She said I was the father.

I said I didn’t believe it. I knew she was lying, and I told her I knew. I said I’d tell Valmai the whole story myself and I said I’d go to Garcia and tell him. She seemed frightened. That’s all that happened.’

‘Are you sure of that?’

‘Yes. What d’you mean? Of course I’m sure.’

‘She didn’t try blackmail? She didn’t say she would go to Miss Seacliff with this story or, if that failed, she didn’t threaten to appeal to your father?’

‘She said all sorts of things. She was hysterical. I don’t remember everything she said. She didn’t know what she was talking about.’

‘Surely you would remember if she threatened to go to your father?’

‘I don’t think she did say she’d do that. Anyway, if she had it wouldn’t have made any difference. He couldn’t force me to marry her. I know that sounds pretty low, but you see, I knew the whole thing was a bluff. It was all so foul and squalid. I was terrified someone would hear her or something. I just walked away.’

‘Did she carry out any of her threats?’

‘No.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Well, I’d have heard pretty soon if she’d said anything to my father.’

‘Then she did threaten to tell your father?’

‘God damn you, I tell you I don’t remember what she threatened.’

‘Did you give her any money?’

Pilgrim moved his head restlessly.

‘I advise you to answer me, Mr Pilgrim.’

‘I needn’t answer anything. I can get a lawyer.’

‘Certainly. Do you wish to do that?’

Pilgrim opened his mouth and shut it again. He frowned to himself as if he thought very deeply, and at last he seemed to come to a decision. He looked from Alleyn to Fox and suddenly he smiled.