‘I suppose if your yacht’s wrecked under your feet you don’t much enjoy being reminded of it.’

‘No, but I got the impression it was something on the card –’ Peregrine went into a stare and after a long pause said in a rather glazed manner, ‘I think I’ve remembered.’

‘What?’

‘On the menu. Signatures: you know? And – Emmy, listen.’

Emily listened. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘For what it’s worth: put it in.’

Peregrine put it in. ‘There’s one other thing,’ he said. ‘It’s about last night. I think it was when I was in front and you had come through from backstage. There was the disturbance by the boy – catcalls and the door-slamming. Somewhere about then, it was, that I remember thinking of The Cherry Orchard. Not consciously but with one of those sort of momentary, back-of-the-mind things.’

‘The Cherry Orchard?’

‘Yes, and Miss Joan Littlewood.’

‘Funny mixture. She’s never produced it, has she?’

‘I don’t think so. Oh, damn, I wish I could get it. Yes,’ Peregrine said excitedly. ‘And with it there was a floating remembrance, I’m sure – of what? A quotation: “Vanished with a – something perfume and a – ” that I think was used somewhere by Walter de la Mare. It was hanging about like the half-recollection of a dream when we walked up the puddled alleyway and into Wharfingers Lane. Why? What started it up?’

‘It mightn’t have anything to do with Trevor or Jobbins.’

‘I know. But I’ve got this silly feeling it has.’

‘Don’t try to remember and then you may.’

‘All right. Anyway the end of hols essay’s ready for what it’s worth. I wonder if Alleyn’s still at the theatre.’

‘Ring up.’

‘OK. What’s that parcel you’ve been carting about all day?’

‘I’ll show you when you’ve rung up.’

A policeman answered from The Dolphin and said that Alleyn was at the Yard. Peregrine got through with startling promptitude.

‘I’ve done this thing,’ he said. ‘Would you like me to bring it over to you?’

‘I would indeed. Thank you, Jay. Remembered anything new?’

‘Not much, I’m afraid.’ The telephone made its complicated jangling sound.

‘What?’ Alleyn asked. ‘What’s that twanging? What did you say? Nothing new?’

‘Yes!’ Peregrine suddenly bawled into the receiver. ‘Yes. You’ve done it. I’ll put it in. Yes. Yes. Yes.’

‘You sound like a pop singer. I’ll be here for the next hour or so. Ask at the Yard entrance and they’ll send you up. ‘Bye.’

‘You’ve remembered?’ Emily cried. ‘What is it? You’ve remembered. ’

And when Peregrine told her, she remembered, too.