‘Move along, sonny,’ said Abel. ‘This way, sir. Us’ll keep parlour for your private use, Mr Alleyn, in case so be you fancy a bit of an office like.’

‘That sounds an excellent arrangement,’ said Alleyn.

‘Have you had supper, sir?’

‘Yes, thank you, Mr Pomeroy. We had it with Mr Harper.’

‘I wonder,’ said Abel unexpectedly, ‘that it didn’t turn your stomachs back on you, then.’

‘This way, please,’ said Will.

They followed Will up the steep staircase. Abel stood in the hall looking after them.

The Feathers, like all old buildings, had its own smell. It smelt of wallpaper, driftwood smoke, and very slightly of beer. Through the door came the tang of the waterfront to mix with the house-smell. The general impression was of coolness and seclusion. Will showed them two small bedrooms whose windows looked over Ottercombe Steps and the chimney-tops of Fish Lane, to the sea. Alleyn took the first of these rooms and Fox the second.

‘The bathroom’s at the end of the passage,’ said Will from Alleyn’s doorway. ‘Will that be all?’

‘We shall be very comfortable,’ said Alleyn, and as Will moved away he added: ‘You’re Mr Pomeroy’s son?’

‘Yes,’ said Will stolidly.

‘I expect Mr Harper has explained why we are here.’

Will nodded and said nothing.

‘I’d be very glad,’ added Alleyn, ‘if you could spare me a minute or two later on.’

Will said, ‘I’ll be serving in the bar all the evening.’

‘I’ll see you there, then. Thank you.’

But Will didn’t move. He stared at the window and said, ‘This affair’s upset my father. He takes it to heart, like; the talk that goes on.’

‘I know.’

‘I reckon he’s right about it being no accident.’

‘Do you?’

‘Yes. Nobody touched the bottle by mistake—‘tisn’t likely.’

‘Look here,’ said Alleyn, ‘can you spare a moment now to show me the rat-hole in the garage?’

Will’s eyelashes flickered.

‘Yes,’ he said, ‘reckon I can do that.’ He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and added with a kind of truculence. ‘Reckon when the police come in, there’s not much use in refusing. Not unless you’ve got a pull somewhere.’

‘Oh come,’ Alleyn said mildly, ‘we’re not as corrupt as all that, you know.’

Will’s face turned scarlet but he said doggedly, ‘It’s not the men, it’s the system. It’s the way everything is in this country.’

‘One law,’ suggested Alleyn amiably, ‘for the rich, and so on?’

‘It’s true enough.’

‘Well, yes. In many ways I suppose it is. However, I’m not open to any bribery at the moment. We always try to be honest for the first few days, it engenders confidence. Shall we go down to the garage?’