‘The thing is, with this Festival coming along tomorrow the place is filling up and we’re going to be fully extended. I mean, keeping observation, as you know, takes one man all his time.’

‘Of course. Can you get reinforcements?’

‘Not easily. But I don’t think it’ll come to that. I don’t reckon it’s warranted. I reckon she’ll watch her step after this. But she’s tricky. You’ve got to face it: she is tricky.’

‘I’m sorry to have landed you with this, Coombe.’

‘Well, I’d rather know. I’m glad you did. After all she’s in my district – and if anything did happen –’

‘Has there been anything else?’

‘That’s why I’m ringing. My chap, Pender, found a trip-wire stretched across the place where she climbs up to her perch. He was hanging about waiting for her to turn up and noticed it. Workman-like job. Couple of iron pegs and a length of fine clothes-line. Could have been nasty. There’s a five foot drop to the pond. And rocks.’

‘Did you tell her?’

‘Yes. She said she’d have spotted it for herself.’

‘When was this?’

‘This morning. About an hour ago.’

‘Damn.’

‘Quite so.’

‘Does she suspect anyone?’

‘Well, yes. She reckons it’s a certain lady. Yes, Mr Mayor. Good morning, sir. I won’t keep you a moment.’

‘Has your Mayor just walked in?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Did you by any chance, mean the shop-keeper? Miss Cost, is it?’

‘That’s right.’

‘I’ll ring up Miss Pride. I suppose she knocks off for lunch, does she? Comes off her perch? ’

‘That’s right. Quite so.’

‘What’s the number of the pub?’

‘Portcarrow 1212.’

‘You’ll keep in touch?’

‘That’ll be quite all right, sir. We’ll do that for you.’

‘Thank you,’ Alleyn said. ‘No matter what they say I’ve got great faith in the police. Goodbye.’

He heard Coombe give a chuckle and hung up.

‘O, Rory!’ his wife said. ‘Not again? Not this time? It’s been such fun, our holiday.’

‘I’m going to talk to her. Come here to me and keep your fingers crossed. She’s hell when she’s roused. Come here.’

He kept his arm round her while he waited for the call to go through. When at last Miss Emily spoke from her room at the Boy-and-Lobster, Troy could hear her quite clearly though she had some difficulty in understanding since Miss Emily spoke in French. So did Alleyn.

‘Miss Emily, how are you getting on?’

‘Perfectly well, I thank you, Roderique.’

‘Have there been unpleasantnesses of the sort that were threatened?’

‘Nothing of moment. Do not disarrange yourself on my account.’

‘You have been hurt.’

‘It was superficial.’

‘You might well have been hurt again.’

‘I think not.’

‘Miss Emily, I must ask you to leave the Island.’