“I know,” I said. “But I’m more optimistic now than I was. Now we know that the man was using a false identity, it opens up all kinds of possibilities. I’m hoping the American embassy will recognize him and come up with good reasons why other people might want him dead. And I told Darcy that we should take photographs of his manservant, and maybe try to get his fingerprints. Because most of the damning evidence against Lord Kilhenny comes from him.”

“Good idea,” Zou Zou said. “You and I will do the donkey work. If Darcy’s not going to bat for himself, then it’s up to us. Women to the rescue.” And she waved her arms, almost knocking over an elderly couple who were crossing the foyer.

In spite of everything I had to laugh.

Darcy returned from his telephone call looking relieved, I thought. When Zou Zou pressed him about who he had called, he would say nothing, making me sure that it was somebody in the spy business with whom he was somehow associated.

“Well, that’s settled at least,” he said. “Should we head back to Kilhenny or is there anything more that we can do here?”

“We can’t do any more here until the embassy finds out Mr. Roach’s real name,” I said. “And we wanted to take a photograph of Mickey the manservant, and try to get his fingerprints.”

“We can’t go anywhere before luncheon,” the princess said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving, and I’m fairly sure there will be nowhere decent to stop for a meal in your village. It will be cottage pie or something equally ghastly. And I’m sure the Shelbourne can provide a passable lunch. Come on, this way.”

Darcy looked at me again and raised an eyebrow as she set off ahead of us. I could see why he thought she’d be a complication for us. Long and expensive meals would take valuable time away from our main objective. But I did have to admit that I was hungry, and it was lovely to be seated at a table in the window overlooking the green while Zou Zou ordered what seemed like an elaborate meal.

“Zou Zou, we are in the middle of a murder investigation,” Darcy pointed out. “You said you’d come over to help, but we’ll be here all afternoon if you order so many courses. Besides, Georgie and I are on a tight budget.”