Winter Morris was behind his desk. He was not alone. A very tall man with an air of elegance and authority stood up as Peregrine entered.

‘Oh, lord,’ Peregrine thought. ‘Another of the Conducis swells or is it somebody to check up on how we behave with the Royals? Or what?’

‘Morning, Perry old boy,’ said Morris. ‘Glad you’ve come in. Mr Peregrine Jay, Superintendent Alleyn.’

CHAPTER 5
Climax

Alleyn was not altogether unused to the theatrical scene or to theatrical people. He had been concerned in four police investigations in which actors had played – and ‘played’ had been the operative word – leading roles. As a result of these cases he was sardonically regarded at the Yard as something of an expert on the species.

It was not entirely on this score, however, that he had been sent to The Dolphin. Some five years ago, Mr Vassily Conducis had been burgled in Drury Place. Alleyn had been sent in and had made a smartish catch and recovered the entire haul within twenty-four hours. Mr Conducis was away at the time but on his return had asked Alleyn to call, probably with the idea of making a tangible acknowledgement. Possibly Alleyn’s manner had made him change his mind and substitute a number of singularly unsparkling congratulations delivered in a stifled tone from somewhere in the region of his epiglottis. Alleyn had left, uncharmed by Mr Conducis.

Their next encounter was the result of a letter to Alleyn’s Great White Chief signed by Mr Conducis and requesting advice and protection for the Shakespeare documents and glove.

‘He’s asked for you, Rory,’ the Great White Chief said. ‘No regard for your rank and status, of course. Very cool. In other respects I suppose, you are the man for the job: what with your theatrical past and your dotage on the Bard. These damned objects seem to be worth the spoils of the Great Train Robbery. Tell him to buy his protection from a reputable firm and leave us alone, by Heaven.’

‘I’d be delighted.’

‘No, you wouldn’t. You’re hell bent on getting a look at the things.’

‘I’m not hell bent on getting another look at Conducis.’

‘No? What’s wrong with him, apart from stinking of money?’

‘Nothing, I daresay.’

‘Well, you’d better find out when these things are going to be transferred and check up on the security. We don’t want another bloody Goya and worse on our hands.’

So Alleyn went to The Dolphin at nine o’clock on the morning of the opening performance.