‘I am coming to myself,’ said Mr Falls modestly. ‘I look extremely fishy. I have left myself to the last because what I have to say, or part of it, is in the nature of a confession.’

Webley looked up quickly. He moved his chair back a little and shifted the position of his great feet.

‘When I left the hall,’ said Mr Falls, ‘I went immediately into the thermal reserve. I have stated that I saw Questing ahead of me and recognized him by his overcoat. I have also stated that I paused and lit my pipe, that then I heard Questing scream, and that a few moments later Bell came along from the direction of the village. I had no alibi. Later, having insisted that none of us should return to the scene of the crime, I myself returned there. You saw me from the hill, did you not, Bell? I was obliged, by the nature of my errand, to use my torch. I heard you plunging down the hillside and realized that you must have seen me. On my return I informed Colonel Claire and Dr Ackrington of my visit to the forbidden territory. Later, I believe, they told you I had given, as an excuse, a story that I had heard someone moving about on the other side of the mound. This was untrue. There was nobody there. And now,’ Falls continued, ‘I come to the last episode in my story.’ With a swift movement he thrust his hand inside his jacket.

Simon scrambled to his feet with an inarticulate cry.

‘Grab him!’ he shouted. ‘Grab him! Quick! Before he takes it! Poison!’

II

But it was not a phial or deadly capsule that Mr Falls drew from the inner pocket of his coat, but a strip of semi-transparent yellow substance which he held up before Simon, who was already halfway across the floor.

‘You alarm me terribly,’ said Mr Falls. ‘What on earth are you up to?’

‘Sit down, boy,’ said Dr Ackrington, ‘you’re making a fool of yourself.’

‘What the blazes are you gettin’ at, Sim?’ asked his father. ‘Plungin’ about like that?’

Gaunt laughed hysterically and Simon turned on him.

‘All right, laugh! The man stands there and tells you he lied and you think it’s funny. All along, I’ve said there was something fishy about him.’ His face was scarlet. He addressed his father and uncle. ‘I told you. I told you he tapped out the code signal. It’s there under your noses and you won’t do anything.’

‘Ah!’ said Mr Falls. ‘You noticed my experiment on the verandah, did you? I thought as much. You have what used to be called a speaking countenance, Claire.’

‘You admit it was the code signal? You admit it?’