Caley Bard said it was an unconscionable bore but one didn’t, after all, fish corpses out of the waterways every day of the week and he would resign himself to the ruling. He grew less popular with every word he uttered.

Mr Pollock whined. He wanted to know why they couldn’t sign a joint statement, for God’s sake, and then bugger off if the ladies would excuse the expression.

Everybody except Caley Bard, Troy and Alleyn looked scandalized and Mr Lazenby expostulated.

Dr Natouche asked if, since his practice was within reasonable driving distance of Norminster, he might be summoned from thence. He realized, of course, that as he had made the preliminary examination he would be required to give evidence under that heading.

Mr Tillottson glanced at Alleyn and then said he thought that would be quite in order.

He now asked to see the passports of Mr Lazenby and the Hewsons and they were produced, Mr Lazenby taking the opportunity to complain about the treatment of Australian visitors at British Customs. Mr Tillottson said the passports would be returned and shifted his feet about as a preface to rising.

It was now that Mr Lazenby suddenly said: ‘I’m puzzled.’ And Troy thought ‘Here we go.’

‘I’d like to ask,’ he said, and he seemed to be looking at her, ‘just how the police have come by some of their information. When did the Superintendent find the opportunity to make the necessary inquiries? To the best of my belief, from the time he got here until this present moment, the Superintendent has been on The River or here in this boat. If you don’t object, Superintendent, I think this calls for an explanation. Just to keep the record straight.’

‘Blimey, chum, you’re right!’ Mr Pollock exclaimed and the Hewsons broke into a little paean of agreement. They all stared at Troy.

Mr Tillottson made an almost instant recovery. He looked straight before him and said that he happened to receive information about Miss Rickerby-Carrick’s mode of departure and had thought it unusual enough to warrant a routine inquiry.

And from whom, if the Superintendent didn’t mind, Mr Lazenby persisted, had he received this information.

Troy heard herself, as if it were with somebody else’s voice, saying: ‘It was from me. I think you all know I called at the police station at Tollardwark. I happened in the course of conversation to say something about Miss Rickerby-Carrick’s unexpected departure.’

‘Quite so,’ said Mr Tillottson. ‘That is correct.’

‘And I imagine,’ Caley Bard said angrily, ‘you have no objections to that perfectly reasonable explanation, Mr Lazenby.’

‘Certainly not. By no means. One only wanted to know.’

‘And now one does know one may as well pipe down.’

‘There’s no call to take that tone,’ Mr Pollock said. ‘We didn’t mean anything personal.’

‘Then what the hell did you mean?’