They went into the circle and could be heard moving round the back towards the prompt side box.

Charles Random said: ‘Well, I’ll be off,’ hesitated for a moment, and then ran down the canvas-covered steps, turned on the landing and descended to the ground floor. Gertrude Bracey stood at the top near the remaining bronze dolphin. She looked at it and then at the mark in the carpet where its companion had stood. She compressed her lips, lifted her head and walked down with perfect deliberation.

All this was observed by Peregrine Jay.

He stopped Emily who had made as if to follow. ‘Are you all right, Emily?’

‘Yes. Quite all right. You?’

‘All the better for seeing you. Shall we take lunch together? But I don’t know how long I’ll be. Were you thinking of lunch later on?’

‘I can’t say I’m wolfishly ravenous.’

‘One must eat.’

Emily said: ‘You can’t possibly tell when you’ll get off. The pub’s no good and nor is The Younger Dolphin. They’ll both be seething with curiosity and reporters. I’ll buy some ham rolls and go down to the wharf below Phipps Passage. There’s a bit of a wall one can sit on.’

‘I’ll join you if I can. Don’t bolt your rolls and hurry away. It’s a golden day on the river.’

‘Look,’ Emily said. ‘What’s Harry up to now!’

Harry was tapping on the office door. Apparently in answer to a summons he opened it and went in.

Emily left the theatre by the circle and pass-door. Peregrine joined a smouldering Marcus Knight and an anxious Winter Morris. Presently Jeremy returned, obviously flown with gratification.

On the far side of the office door Harry Grove confronted Alleyn.

His manner had quite changed. He was quiet and direct and spoke without affectation.

‘I daresay,’ he said, ‘I haven’t commended myself to you as a maker of statements but a minute or two ago – after I had been sent out in disgrace, you know – I remembered something. It may have no bearing on the case whatever but I think perhaps I ought to leave it to you to decide.’

‘That,’ Alleyn said, ‘by and large, is the general idea we like to establish.’

Harry smiled. ‘Well then,’ he said, ‘here goes. It’s rumoured that when the nightwatchman, whatever he’s called – ’

‘Hawkins.’

‘That when Hawkins found Jobbins and, I suppose, when you saw him, he was wearing a light overcoat.’

‘Yes.’

‘Was it a rather large brown and white check with an over-check of black?’

‘It was.’

‘Loudish, one might say?’

‘One might, indeed.’

‘Yes. Well, I gave him that coat on Friday evening.’

‘Your name is still on the inside pocket tag.’