‘Yeah, and do you know why, mate?’ Pollock said. ‘Because he wasn’t there. Because he’d followed her and done bloody murder on her up the hill. Because he’s not a bloody doctor but a bloody murderer. Now!’

Alleyn moved to face Dr Natouche. Tillottson, who had been taking notes walked to the foot of the companion-way. At the head of it the constable could be seen beyond the half-door.

Dr Natouche had risen.

‘Do you want to make a statement?’ Alleyn asked and knew that they all waited for the well-worn sequel. But already the enormous voice had begun.

‘I am alone,’ it said, ‘and must defend myself. When these men who accuse me had gone to their cabins I was, as Mr Hewson has said, on deck. The mist or fog was dense and I could see nothing but a few feet of deck and the glow of the lockhouse windows and that only very faintly. The night was oppressive and damp. I was about to go back when Miss Hewson came very quickly up the stairway, crying out and weeping and in a condition of advanced hysteria. She ran into me and would have fallen. I took her by the arms and tried to calm her. She became violent and screamed “Let me go” several times. Since I frightened her—she was I believe allergic to people of my colour—I did let her go and she stumbled across the deck and was hidden by the fog. I thought she might injure herself. I drew nearer but she heard me and screamed again: “Let me go”. By that time these gentlemen were approaching. They came up on deck calling to her and plunging about in the fog. I waited unseen until I heard the Captain’s voice and then, since obviously there was nothing I could do, I went below and to bed. I remained in my cabin until the arrival of your colleagues.’

He waited for a moment. ‘That is all,’ he said and sat down.

Alleyn had the impression, an obscene and grotesque one, of Lazenby, Pollock and Hewson running together and coagulating into a corporate blob of enormity. They did actually move towards each other. They stood close and watched Natouche.

Caley Bard said: ‘I’m sorry. I’m terribly sorry but I can’t accept that. It’s just not true. It can’t be true.’

The group of three moved very slightly. Pollock gave a little hiss of satisfaction. Lazenby said: ‘Ah!’ and Hewson: ‘Even he sees that,’ as if Caley were an implacable enemy.

‘Why can’t it be true?’ Alleyn said.

Caley walked up to Natouche and looked steadily at him.