He was hunting through the telephone book. ‘That,’ he said, ‘is a prime example of utterly fruitless speculation. I am surprised at you, Miss Emily.’ He dialled the number. The Manor Court Hotel would have a suite vacant at five o’clock the next day. There would also be a small single room. There had been cancellations. He booked the suite. ‘You can go over in the morning,’ he said, ‘and lunch there. It’s the best we can do. Will you stay indoors today, please?’

‘I have given up this room.’

‘I don’t think there will be any difficulty.’

‘People are leaving?’

‘I daresay some will do so.’

‘O,’ she said, ‘I am so troubled, my dear. I am so troubled.’

This, more than anything else she had said, being completely out of character, moved and disturbed him. He sat her down and because she looked unsettled and alien in her travelling toque, carefully removed it. ‘There,’ he said, ‘and I haven’t disturbed the coiffure. Now, you look more like my favourite old girl.’

‘That is no way to address me,’ said Miss Emily. ‘You forget yourself.’ He unbuttoned her gloves and drew them off. ‘Should I blow in them?’ he asked. ‘Or would that be du dernier bourgeois?’

He saw with dismay that she was fighting back tears.

There was a tap at the door. Jenny Williams opened it and looked in. ‘Are you receiving?’ she asked and then saw Alleyn. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I’ll come back later.’

‘Come in,’ Alleyn said. ‘She may, mayn’t she, Miss Emily?’

‘By all means. Come in, Jennifer.’

Jenny gave Alleyn a look. He said: ‘We’ve been discussing appropriate action to be taken by Miss Emily,’ and told her what he had arranged.

Jenny said: ‘Can’t the hotel take her today?’ And then hurried on: ‘Wouldn’t you like to be shot of the Island as soon as possible, Miss Pride? It’s been a horrid business, hasn’t it?’

‘I’m afraid they’ve nothing until tomorrow,’ Alleyn said.

‘Well then, wouldn’t London be better, after all? It’s so anti-climaxy to gird up one’s loins and then ungird them. Miss Pride, if you’d at all like me to, I’d love to go with you for the train journey.’

‘You are extremely kind, dear child. Will you excuse me for a moment. I have left my handkerchief in my bedroom, I think.’

Jenny, about to fetch it, caught Alleyn’s eye and stopped short. Alleyn opened the door for Miss Emily and shut it again.

He said quickly: ‘What’s happened? Talk?’

‘She mustn’t go out. Can’t we get her away? Yes. Talk. Beastly, unheard-of, filthy talk. She mustn’t know. God!’ said Jenny, ‘how I hate people.’

‘She’s staying indoors all day.’

‘Has she any idea what they’ll be saying?’