‘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.’

‘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?’