‘Oh, yes, she had a big plate of sweet cakes, and a raspberry fruit drink. I took them down to her myself.’

Bland looked up sharply.

‘You took them down to her? When?’

‘About the middle of the afternoon.’

‘What time exactly? Can you remember?’

Miss Brewis considered a moment.

‘Let me see. Children’s Fancy Dress was judged, there was a little delay – Lady Stubbs couldn’t be found, but Mrs Folliat took her place, so that was all right…Yes, it must have been – I’m almost sure – about five minutes past four that I collected the cakes and the fruit drink.’

‘And you took them down to her at the boathouse yourself. What time did you reach there?’

‘Oh, it takes about five minutes to go down to the boathouse – about quarter past four, I should think.’

‘And at quarter past four Marlene Tucker was alive and well?’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Miss Brewis, ‘and very eager to know how people were getting on with the murder hunt, too. I’m afraid I couldn’t tell her. I’d been too busy with the side show on the lawn, but I did know that a lot of people had entered for it. Twenty or thirty to my knowledge. Probably a good many more.’

‘How did you find Marlene when you arrived at the boathouse?’

‘I’ve just told you.’

‘No, no, I don’t mean that. I mean, was she lying on the floor shamming dead when you opened the door?’

‘Oh, no,’ said Miss Brewis, ‘because I called out just before I got there. So she opened the door and I took the tray in and put it on the table.’

‘At a quarter past four,’ said Bland, writing it down, ‘Marlene Tucker was alive and well. You will understand, I’m sure, Miss Brewis, that that is a very important point. You are quite sure of your times?’

‘I can’t be exactly sure because I didn’t look at my watch, but I had looked at it a short time previously and that’s as near as I can get.’ She added, with a sudden dawning realization of the inspector’s point, ‘Do you mean that it was soon after –?’

‘It can’t have been very long after, Miss Brewis.’

‘Oh, dear,’ said Miss Brewis.

It was a rather inadequate expression, but nevertheless it conveyed well enough Miss Brewis’ dismay and concern.

‘Now, Miss Brewis, on your way down to the boathouse and on your way back again to the house, did you meet anybody or see anyone near the boathouse?’

Miss Brewis considered.