‘Well, they seem a very nice young couple. He’s inclined to be what I should call – moody. I don’t know very much about him. She was a Carstairs before her marriage and I know some relations of hers very well. They took the Mill Cottage for two months, and I hope they’ve enjoyed their holiday here. We’ve all got very friendly together.’

‘She’s an attractive lady, I understand.’

‘Oh, yes, very attractive.’

‘Would you say that at any time Sir George had felt that attraction?’

Mrs Folliat looked rather astonished.

‘Oh, no, I’m sure there was nothing of that kind. Sir George is really absorbed by his business, and very fond of his wife. He’s not at all a philandering sort of man.’

‘And there was nothing, you would say, between Lady Stubbs and Mr Legge?’

Again Mrs Folliat shook her head.

‘Oh, no, positively.’

The inspector persisted.

‘There’s been no trouble of any kind between Sir George and his wife, that you know of ?’

‘I’m sure there hasn’t,’ said Mrs Folliat, emphatically. ‘And I would know if there had been.’

‘It wouldn’t be, then, as a result of any disagreement between husband and wife that Lady Stubbs has gone away?’

‘Oh, no.’ She added lightly, ‘The silly girl, I understand, didn’t want to meet this cousin of hers. Some childish phobia. So she’s run away just like a child might do.’

‘That’s your opinion. Nothing more than that?’

‘Oh, no. I expect she’ll turn up again quite soon. Feeling rather ashamed of herself.’ She added carelessly, ‘What’s become of this cousin, by the way? Is he still here in the house?’

‘I understand he’s gone back to his yacht.’

‘And that’s at Helmmouth, is it?’

‘Yes, at Helmmouth.’

‘I see,’ said Mrs Folliat. ‘Well, it’s rather unfortunate – Hattie behaving so childishly. However, if he’s staying on here for a day or so, we can make her see she must behave properly.’

It was, the inspector thought, a question, but although he noticed it he did not answer it.

‘You are probably thinking,’ he said, ‘that all this is rather beside the point. But you do understand, don’t you, Mrs Folliat, that we have to range over rather a wide field. Miss Brewis, for instance. What do you know about Miss Brewis?’

‘Well, she’s an excellent secretary. More than a secretary. She practically acts as housekeeper down here. In fact, I don’t know what they’d do without her.’

‘Was she Sir George’s secretary before he married his wife?’

‘I think so. I’m not quite sure. I’ve only known her since she came down here with them.’

‘She doesn’t like Lady Stubbs very much, does she?’