‘I know he did,’ said Parish, ‘but I don’t believe it was true. I believe Luke recognized Legge. Not at first, perhaps, but later. During that first evening in the bar. I suppose you know that Legge smashed into my cousin’s car before ever he got here? That’s a bit funny, too, when you come to think of it.’

‘What,’ asked Cubitt, ‘is the dark inference, Seb? Why was it funny? Do you suppose that Legge lurked round Diddlestock corner in a two-seater, and that every time he heard a powerful car coming down Ottercombe Road, he hurled his baby out of cover in the hopes of ramming Luke?’

‘Oh, don’t be an ass. I simply mean it was a coincidence.’

‘About the first evening in the bar?’ suggested Alleyn, who had decided that there was a certain amount to be said for allowing Parish and Cubitt plenty of rein.

‘Yes. Well, I was going to tell you,’ said Parish. ‘I talked to Luke while he had his supper in the bar. He told me about this business with the cars and rather let off steam on the subject of the other driver. Well, it turned out that Legge was sitting in the settle—the —actually it was the settle where Luke—where it happened. WhenLuke realized Legge must have heard he went across and sort of made the amende honorable, if you know what I mean. He didn’t make much headway. Legge was rather stuffy and up-stage.’

‘Was all this while the poison-party was going on in the stable?’

‘What? Yes. Yes, it was.’

‘So that Mr Legge did not attend the party in the stables?’

‘I suppose not. But he knew all about it. When Abel came in he warned everybody in the place about what he’d done.’

Parish hesitated. ‘It’s hard to describe,’ he said. ‘But if you’d known my cousin you’d understand. He seemed to be getting at Legge. Even you’ll agree to that, Norman.’

‘Yes,’ said Cubitt. ‘I put it down to Luke’s vanity.’

‘His vanity?’ asked Alleyn.

‘Parish doesn’t agree with me,’ said Cubitt with a faint smile, ‘on the subject of Watchman’s vanity. I’ve always considered he attached importance to being on good terms with people. It seemed to me that when Legge snubbed his advances Watchman was at first disconcerted and put out of countenance, and then definitely annoyed. They had a bet on that first night about Legge’s dart-throwing and Legge won. That didn’t help. Then, Watchman chipped Legge about his politics and his job. Not very prettily, I thought. It was then, or about then, that the trick with the darts was first mentioned.’

‘By Legge,’ Parish pointed out.

‘I know, but Luke insisted on the experiment.’

‘Mr Cubitt,’ said Alleyn, ‘did you not get the impression that these two men had met before?’

Norman Cubitt rumpled his hair and scowled.