‘Two days, my dear fellah, two days! You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve got one draft going out tonight and a new detachment coming in tomorrow. Where the hell d’you suppose I’m going to put them? Hey?’

Alleyn said it was no doubt extremely inconvenient.

‘Inconvenient! It’s outrageous.’

‘So,’ Alleyn suggested, ‘is murder.’

‘I’ve no proof of where you get your authority and I’ll have you know I won’t act without it. I refuse point blank,’ shouted the Major. ‘And categorically,’ he added as if that clinched the matter.

‘The authority,’ Alleyn said, ‘is Scotland Yard and I’m very sorry, but you really can’t refuse, you know. Either you decide to frame an announcement in your own words and get it out at once or I shall be obliged to issue a police notice. In any case that will be done at the Spring itself. It would be better, as I’m sure you must agree, if intending visitors were stopped here rather than at the gates.’

‘Of course it would,’ said Patrick impatiently.

‘Yes, Keith. Please,’ said Mrs Barrimore.

‘When I want your suggestions, Margaret, I’ll ask for them.’

Patrick looked at his step-father with disgust. He said to Alleyn: ‘With respect, sir, I suggest that my mother and Jenny leave us to settle this point.’

Mrs Barrimore at once rose.

‘May we?’ she asked. Jenny said: ‘Yes, please, may we?’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Alleyn, and to Patrick, ‘Let the court be cleared of ladies, by all means, Mr Ferrier.’

Patrick gave him a look and turned pink. All the same, Alleyn thought, there was an air of authority about him. The wig was beginning to sprout and would probably become this young man rather well.

‘Here. Wait a bit,’ said the Major. He spread his hands. ‘All right. All right,’ he said. ‘Have it your own way.’ He turned on his wife. ‘You’re supposed to be good at this sort of rot, Margaret. Get out a notice and make it tactful. Say that owing to an accident in the area – no, my God, that sounds bloody awful. Owing to unforeseen circumstances – I don’t know. I don’t know. Say what you like. Talk to them. But get it done.’ Alleyn could cheerfully have knocked him down.

Mrs Barrimore and Jenny went out.

Patrick, who had turned very white, said: ‘I think it will be much better if we help Mr Alleyn as far as we’re able. He wants to get on with his work, I’m sure. The facts will have to become known sooner or later. We’ll do no good by adopting delaying tactics.’