It was written in green ink on a sheet of business paper on which printed titles were set out, representing Mr Questing as an indent agent and representative of several firms. It bore the date of the previous day and was headed: ‘Private and Confidential’.

Dear Mr Bell [Dikon read],

You will be somewhat surprised to receive this communication. An unexpected cable necessitates my visiting Australia and I am leaving for Auckland first thing tomorrow morning to see about a passage by air. I shall not be returning for some little while.

Now, Mr Bell, I should commence by telling you that I appreciate the very very happy little relationship that has obtained since I first had the pleasure of contacting you. The personal antagonism that I have encountered in other quarters has never entered into our acquaintance and I take this opportunity of thanking you for your courtesy. You will note that I have endorsed this letter p and c. It is rather particularly so and I am sure I can rely upon you to keep the spirit of the endorsement. If you are not prepared to do so I will ask you to destroy this letter unread.

‘I can’t go on with this,’ said Dikon.

‘If you don’t, sir, we will. He’s dead, remember.’

‘Oh, hell!’

‘You can read it to yourself if you like, Mr Bell,’ said Webley, keeping his eyes on Mr Falls, ‘and then hand it over.’

Dikon read on a little way, made an ejaculation and finally said: ‘No, by George, you shall hear it.’ And he read the letter aloud.