‘Ah! Yes. Well, let me see. My wife and I stood on the ballroom gallery at the head of the stairs saying goodbye to our guests—those of them who were old-fashioned enough to think it necessary to thank their hosts. Some of the young cubs didn’t take the trouble, I may tell you. Lord Robert came, of course, and was perfectly charming. Let me see, now. He went downstairs, into the cloakroom and out again wearing that extraordinary cloak of his. I remember this because I came down and passed him. I went into the buffet.’

‘Did you come out again before Lord Robert left?’

‘No.’ Carrados returned for a moment to the stricken soldier-man. ‘No. That was the last I shall ever see of Robert Gospell. Ah, well! I don’t mind admitting, Alleyn, that this thing has hit me pretty hard. Pretty hard! Still, we’ve got to bite on the bullet, haven’t we? What were we saying? Oh yes. I stayed in the buffet for some time. I don’t mind admitting I was about all in. I smoked a cigar and had a peg of brandy. I had a word with that fellow Dimitri and then I went home.’

‘With Lady Carrados and Miss O’Brien?’

‘What? No. No, I packed them off earlier in the other car. My wife was absolutely fagged out. I wanted to have a look round. Make sure everything was all right. I wouldn’t trust anybody else. These people are so damned careless, leaving lighted cigarettes all over the place. I satisfied myself everything was all right and then I went home. The chauffeur came back for me. Daresay you’d like to see him.’

‘No, sir, thank you. I think we may take that as read.’

‘I’ve no wish to be treated differently from anyone else, but that’s as you please, of course. Anything else?’

‘If I might have a word with Lady Carrados, sir?’

‘I don’t think my wife can give you any information, Alleyn. She’s absolutely prostrated by this business. Robert Gospell was a very great friend of hers and she’s taken it damn hard. Matter of fact, she’s not up.’

Alleyn paused.

‘I am so sorry,’ he said at last. ‘That’s most unfortunate. I wanted if possible to save her appearing at the inquest.’

‘When is the inquest?’

‘Tomorrow morning, sir.’

Carrados glared at him.

‘She will certainly be too unwell for any such thing. I shall see that her doctor forbids it. And it is equally impossible for her to see you this afternoon. I know that if I were to disturb her, which I have no intention of doing as she is asleep in bed, she would refuse. That’s definite.’

The door opened and the footman came in.

‘Her ladyship, sir, wishes me to say that if Mr Alleyn has a few minutes to spare she would be very pleased to see him.’

He waited, gently closing the door on an extremely uncomfortable silence.