‘I don’t pretend to be a horsey woman, thank God! I simply loathe the brutes. I must say I got very bored with the old person. And besides, I didn’t want to miss the pose this morning. I’d got a good deal to do to my thing of Sonia. I suppose I’ll never get it done now.’

Fox coughed and Nigel glanced up at Valmai Seacliff in astonishment.

‘I suppose not,’ agreed Alleyn. ‘Now, Miss Seacliff, we come to this morning’s tragedy. Will you describe to us exactly what happened, please?’

‘Have you got a cigarette?’

Alleyn sprang up and offered her his case.

‘What are they? Oh, I see. Thank you.’

She took one and he lit it for her. She looked into his eyes deliberately but calmly, as if she followed a familiar routine. Alleyn returned her glance gravely and sat down again.

‘This morning?’ she said. ‘You mean when Sonia was killed? It was rather ghastly. I felt wretched after it was all over. Ill. I suppose it was shock. I do think it was rather cruel that I should be the one to—to do it—to set the pose. They all knew I always pushed her shoulders down.’ She caught her breath, and for the first time showed some signs of genuine distress. ‘I believe Garcia deliberately planned it like that. He loathed the sight of Sonia, and at the same time he wanted to revenge himself on me because I didn’t fall for him. It was just like Garcia to do that. He’s a spiteful little beast. It was cruel. I—I can’t get rid of the remembrance. I’ll never be able to get rid of it.’

‘I’m sorry that I am obliged to ask you to go over it again, but I’m sure you will understand—’

‘Oh, yes. And the psycho people say one shouldn’t repress things of this sort. I don’t want to get nervy and lose my poise. After all, I didn’t do it really. I keep telling myself that.’

‘When did you go down to the studio?’

‘Just before class time. Basil and I walked down together. Katti Bostock was there and—let me see—yes, the appalling Hatchett youth, Lee and Ormerin and Malmsley came down afterwards, I think.’

‘Together?’

‘I don’t remember. They were not there when I got down.’

‘I see. Will you go on, Miss Seacliff?’