‘‘Twas in the mornings.’

‘You were there on the morning after Mr Watchman arrived in Ottercombe?’

She looked steadily at him. ‘I was,’ said Miss Darragh.

‘We saw where you had set up your easel. Miss Darragh, did you, from where you were working, overhear a conversation between Miss Moore and Mr Watchman?’

Miss Darragh clasped her fat little paws together and looked dismally at Alleyn.

‘Please,’ said Alleyn.

‘I did. I could not avoid it. By the time I’d decided I’d get up and show meself above the sky-line, it had gone so far I thought I had better not.’

She gave him a quick look and added hurriedly, ‘Please, now, don’t go thinking all manner of dreadful things.’

‘What am I to think? Do you mean it was a love-scene?’

‘Not in—no. No, the reverse.’

‘A quarrel?’

‘It was.’

‘Was it of that scene you were thinking when you told me this morning, to look further and look nearer home?’

‘It was. I wasn’t thinking of her. God forbid. Don’t misunderstand me. I was not the only one who heard them. And that’s all I’ll say.’

She clutched her bag firmly and stood up.

‘As regards this searching,’ added Miss Darragh, ‘the superintendent let me off. He said you’d attend to ut.’

‘I know,’ said Alleyn. ‘Perhaps you won’t mind if Mrs Ives goes up with you to your room.’

‘Not the least in the world,’ said Miss Darragh.

‘Then I’ll send for her,’ said Alleyn.

II

While he waited for Harper and the chief constable, Alleyn brought his report up to date and discussed it with Fox who remained, weakly insubordinate, in his chair by the fire.

‘It’s an ill wind,’ said Fox, ‘that blows nobody any good. I take it that I’ve had what you might call a thorough spring-clean with the doctor’s tube taking the part of a vacuum cleaner, if the idea’s not too fanciful. I feel all the better for it.’

Alleyn grunted.

‘I don’t know but what I don’t fancy a pipe,’ continued Fox.

‘You’ll have another spring-clean if you do.’

‘Do you think so, Mr Alleyn? In that case I’ll hold off. I fancy I hear a car, sir. Coming through the tunnel, isn’t it?’

Alleyn listened.

‘I think so. We’ll get the CC to fix up a warrant. Well, Br’er Fox, it’s been a short, sharp go this time, hasn’t it?’

‘And you were looking forward to a spell in the country, sir.’

‘I was.’

‘We’ll be here yet awhile, with one thing and another.’

‘I suppose so. Here they are.’