‘Very well. I shall move on,’ Alleyn said and spoke generally. ‘Among her papers we have found a typewritten list of dates. It is a carbon copy. The top copy is missing. Miss Cost had fallen into the habit of sending anonymous letters. As we know only too well, this habit grows by indulgence. It is possible, having regard for the dates in question, that this document has been brought to the notice of the person most likely to be disturbed by it. Possibly with a print of the photograph. Now, this individual has, in one crucial respect, given a false statement as to time and circumstance and because of that –’

There was a tap at the door. Fox opened it. A voice in the passage shouted: ‘I can’t wait quiet-like, mister. I got to see ‘im.’ It was Trehern.

Fox said: ‘Now then, what’s all this?’ And began to move out. Trehern plunged at him, head down and was taken in a half-nelson. Bailey appeared in the doorway. ‘You lay your hands off of me,’ Trehern whined. ‘You got nothing against me.’

‘Outside,’ said Fox.

Trehern struggling, looked wildly round the assembled company and fixed on Alleyn. ‘I got something to tell you, mister,’ he said. ‘I got something to put before all of you. I got to speak out.’

‘All right, Fox,’ Alleyn said and nodded to Bailey, who went out and shut the door. Fox relaxed his hold. ‘Well, Trehern, what is it?’

Trehern wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and blinked. ‘I been thinking,’ he said.

‘Yes?’

‘I been thinking things over. Ever since you come at me up to my house and acted like you done and made out what you made out which is not the case. I be’ant a quick-brained chap, mister, but the light has broke and I see me way clear, I got to speak and speak public.’

‘Very well. What do you want to say?’

‘Don’t you rush me now, mister. What I got to say is a mortal serious matter and I need to take my time.’

‘Nobody’s rushing you.’

‘No, nor they better not,’ he said. His manner was half truculent, half cringing. ‘It concerns this yurr half-hour in time what was the matter which you flung in my teeth. So fur so good. Now. This yurr lady,’ he ducked his head at Miss Emily, ‘tells you she seen my lil’ chap in the road round about twenty to eight on this yurr fatal morning. Right?’

‘Certainly,’ said Miss Pride.

‘Much obliged. And I says, so she might of then, for all I know to the contrariwise me being asleep in my bed. And I says I uprose at five past eight. Correct?’

‘That’s what you said, yes.’