‘Ping!’ said Harry. ‘Great strength rings the bell. I wonder if the Elegant Rozzer in there heard you. I must be off. Best of British luck – ’ He caught himself up on this familiar quotation from Jobbins and looked miserable. ‘That,’ he said, ‘was not intentional,’ and took himself off.

Marcus Knight at once went into what Peregrine had come to think of as his First Degree of temperament. It took the outward form of sweet reason. He spoke in a deathly quiet voice, used only restrained gestures and, although that nerve jumped up and down under his empurpled cheek, maintained a dreadful show of equanimity.

‘This may not be, indeed emphatically is not, an appropriate moment to speculate upon the continued employment of this person. One has been given to understand that the policy is adopted at the instigation of The Management. I will be obliged, Winter, if at the first opportunity, you convey to The Management my intention, unless Harry Grove is relieved of his part, of bringing my contract to its earliest possible conclusion. My agents will deal with the formalities.’

At this point, under normal circumstances, he would undoubtedly have effected a smashing exit. He looked restlessly at the doors and stairways and, as an alternative, flung himself into one of the Victorian settees that Jeremy had caused to be placed about the circle foyer. Here he adopted a civilized and faintly Corinthian posture but looked, nevertheless, as if he would sizzle when touched.

‘My dear, dear Perry and my dear Winty,’ he said. ‘Please do take this as definite. I am sorry, sorry, sorry that it should be so. But there it is.’

Perry and Morris exchanged wary glances. Jeremy, who had looked utterly miserable from the time he came in, sighed deeply.

Peregrine said, ‘Marco, may we, of your charity, discuss this a little later? The horrible thing that happened last night is such a black problem for all of us. I concede everything you may say about Harry. He behaves attrociously and under normal circumstances would have been given his marching orders long ago. If there’s any more of this sort of thing, I’ll speak about it to Greenslade and if he feels he can’t take a hand I shall – I’ll go to Conducis himself and tell him I can no longer stomach his protégé. But in the meantime – please be patient, Marco.’

Marcus waved his hand. The gesture was beautiful and ambiguous. It might have indicated dismissal, magniloquence or implacable fury. He gazed at the ceiling, folded his arms and crossed his legs.

Winter Morris stared at Peregrine and then cast up his eyes and very, very slightly rolled his head.

Inspector Fox came out of the office and said that if Mr Jeremy Jones was free Superintendent Alleyn would be grateful if he could spare him a moment.

Peregrine, watching Jeremy go, suffered pangs of an undefined anxiety.