Alleyn reflected acidly that Sir Herbert was enjoying himself thoroughly and hurried on.

‘At this moment, just as you return to the sitting-room, having sent the waiter downstairs, and Mrs Halcut-Hackett dives into the cloakroom, Lord Robert comes upstairs. What does Withers do?’

‘Sheers off and comes sloping into the sitting-room after me. I had to make conversation with the fellow. Young Potter was sulking about in there too. I hope I’ve got as much tolerance for the youngsters as any other old fogey, Alleyn, but I must confess I—’

He stopped and looked uncomfortable.

‘Yes?’ murmured Alleyn.

‘I—it doesn’t matter. Stick to the point, eh? Withers, eh? Yes. Well now, I flatter myself, Alleyn, that I can get along with most people, but I freely confess I did not enjoy Withers’s company. Calls himself Captain. What was his regiment?’

‘I don’t know at all. Could you, by any chance, hear Lord Robert from the other room?’

‘No. No, I couldn’t. Now you mention it, I believe I heard the extension bell doing that damned dialling tinkle. The fact is I couldn’t stand any more of that confounded outsider’s conversation. I made my excuses and went downstairs.’

‘Did you meet anybody coming up?’

‘I don’t think so. Mrs Halcut-Hackett was going down ahead of me.’

‘So while you were still in the sitting-room, sir, anybody might have come upstairs and gone into the room where Lord Robert sat telephoning?’

‘I suppose so.’

‘Mrs Halcut-Hackett might have gone in before you went downstairs. Captain Withers or Donald Potter might have done it afterwards?’

‘Yes, by Gad, they might. If you want to get an account of this telephone conversation you might ask ’em. I don’t like to make the suggestion about one of my guests, but upon my soul I wouldn’t put it past Withers to listen to a private conversation. What’s young Potter doing, cottoning on to a cad twenty years his senior, I’d like to know? However! Anything more?’

‘Yes, sir. Did you by any chance notice a Miss Harris while you were upstairs? The man said something—’

‘Harris? D’you mean m’wife’s secretary? Yes, of course I saw her. She bolted into the lavatory when I came up. I didn’t see her come out.’

‘I see. Perhaps I might have a word with her before I go.’

‘Certainly, but you’ll find her a bit difficult. She’s a shy little thing—pity there aren’t more like her. Nowadays they don’t give a damn who sees them coming out of any door.’

Sir Herbert suddenly made up his mind he had said something amusing and broke into loud baying laughter in which Alleyn was careful to join.

‘Poor little Harris,’ Carrados said. ‘Well, well, well!’

‘Now,’ continued Alleyn when the laughter had died away, ‘about the end of the ball. We would like to trace Lord Robert’s movements, of course. I don’t know, sir, if you can give us any help at all.’