‘But it’s more than possible some of the Maori people hanging round the doorway saw you walk away. The same observers might already have seen Questing go off in the opposite direction. I myself followed close after you but you had already disappeared. However, I heard distant voices that seemed to me to come from the far side of the village, the side nearest the main road. Possibly the owners of these voices saw you. It was with the object of collecting such data that I suggested we should call this meeting.’

‘I saw nobody,’ said Gaunt, ‘and I heard no voices.’

‘Did you hear the scream?’ asked Simon.

‘No, I heard nothing,’ said Gaunt easily and smiled again at Barbara.

‘Then,’ said Dr Ackrington importantly, ‘I may proceed with my own statement.’

‘No, wait a bit, James.’

Colonel Claire drove his fingers through his hair and gazed unhappily at his brother-in-law. ‘I’m afraid we can’t let things go like this. I mean, since you’ve insisted on us thrashing the thing out between us one mustn’t keep back anything, must one? Gaunt’s statement may be quite all right. I don’t know. But at the same time…’

Dikon saw Gaunt turn white while his lips still held their smile. Gaunt did not look at the Colonel, his eyes still rested on Barbara, but they stared blankly, now. He did not speak and after glancing uncomfortably at him the Colonel went on.

‘You remember,’ he said, ‘I went back to the pa last night.’

‘Well?’ said Dr Ackrington sharply as he paused.

‘Well, I think I told you that they were all excited. They said a lot of things that at the time I felt I’d better keep to myself. I used to take that line in India, pretty much, when there was trouble with the natives. Wait a bit before handin’ on anything they tell you or you may land yourself in a mess. It’s the best way in my opinion. But when we agree to give full reports on our movements and there’s evidence that a report may not be full, well then it’s one’s duty to speak. That’s my view.’

‘Your ethics, my dear Edward, may be admirable. No doubt they are. But having decided to reveal that which you formerly held locked in your bosom, will you be kind enough to come to the point and, in fact, reveal it.’