‘It’s all right, Donna, my sweet. That had nothing to do with Bunchy. Oh—he was there, wasn’t he? In the supper-room when I brought it to you?’

Bridget, perched on the arm of the wing chair, could not see her mother’s face and Alleyn thought: ‘Now we’re in for it.’

He said: ‘You returned the bag in the supper-room, did you?’

Lady Carrados suddenly leant back and closed her eyes.

‘Yes,’ Bridget said, ‘and it was simply squashed full of money. But why the bag? Does it fit somewhere frightfully subtle? I mean was the motive really money and did the murderer think Donna gave Bunchy the money, sort of? Or something?’

Lady Carrados said: ‘Bridgie, darling. I’m by way of talking privately to Mr Alleyn.’

‘Oh, are you, darling? I’m sorry. I’ll whizz off. Shall I see you again before you go, Mr Alleyn?’

‘Please, Miss Bridget.’

‘Well, come along to the old nursery. I’ll be there.’

Bridget looked round the corner of the chair at her mother, who actually managed to give her a smile. She went out and Lady Carrados covered her face with her hands.

‘Don’t try to tell me, Evelyn,’ said Alleyn gently. ‘I’ll see if I can tell you. Come now, it may not be so dreadful, after all. Listen. Someone has been blackmailing you. You have had letters written in script on Woolworth paper. One of them came on the morning Bunchy brought you spring flowers. You put it under your pillow. Last night you left your bag in the green room, because you had been told to leave it there. It contained the money the blackmailer demanded. It now appears that Bridget returned your bag, still full of notes, while you were in the supper-room with Bunchy. Did you replace it in the green sitting-room? You did … and later it was returned to you, empty—while you were in the ballroom?’

‘But—you know all this! Roderick, do you also know what they have found out?’

‘No. I have no idea what they found out. Had Bunchy?’