‘Certainly. Further, I suggest that he was lying in the shadows when you hunted along the path last night after the scream, and that as soon as you had gone he completed a change of garments. Doubtless he had hidden his new clothes in some suitable cache. He threw the ones he was wearing into Taupo-tapu and made off under cover of the dark. In support of this theory I draw your attention to a development of which Falls has acquainted me. They have salvaged Questing’s white waistcoat from Taupo-tapu. How could a waistcoat detach itself from a body?’

‘It was a backless waistcoat,’ Dikon muttered. ‘The straps might have gone. And anyway, sir, the chemicals in the thing…’

But Dr Ackrington swept on with his discourse. ‘It is even possible that the person you, Falls, heard moving about when you returned was Questing himself. Remember that he could only get away by returning through the village or by coming on round the hill. No doubt he waited for everything to settle down. He acted, of course, under orders.’ Dr Ackrington coughed slightly and looked complacently at Falls. ‘My theory,’ he said with a most unconvincing air of modesty, ‘for what it is worth.’

‘If you don’t mind my saying so, Uncle James,’ said Simon instantly, ‘in my opinion it’s not so much a theory as a joke.’

‘Indeed! Perhaps you’ll be kind enough…’

‘You’re trying to tell us that Questing wanted to make a clean getaway. What was his big idea letting out a screech you could hear for miles around?’

‘I had scarcely dared to hope that I would be asked that question,’ said Dr Ackrington complacently. ‘What better method could he employ if he wished to protect himself from interruption from the Maori people? Do you imagine that after hearing that scream, there was a Maori on the place who would venture near Taupo-tapu?’

‘What about us?’

‘It was sheer chance that kept Bell and your mother and sister and Mr Falls behind. And, most important, please remember that it had been arranged that we should all pack into Gaunt’s car for the return journey. All, that is, except Questing himself, Simon and Smith. It was an unexpected turn of events when Gaunt, Edward, Falls and I all decided, separately, to walk. He had expected to be practically free from disturbance. The audience was leaving when Questing himself went out.’

‘And what about this print?’ Simon continued exactly as if his uncle had not spoken. ‘I thought the idea was that somebody had deliberately kicked the clod away. Bell’s pointed out that Questing wore pansy pumps.’