‘Yes. So I did,’ admitted Alleyn cheerfully.

‘He thought I’d lost my nerve and talked too much.’

‘And now you are prepared to talk?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘We’ve told you—’ Bridget began.

‘Yes, I know. You’ve told me that you persuaded Donald to come to me because you thought it better for him to explain his association with Withers. But I rather think there’s something more behind it than that. Would I be wrong, Donald, if I said that you were at least encouraged to take this decision by the fear that Withers himself might get in first and suggest that you had killed your uncle?’

Bridget cried out: ‘No! No! How can you be so cruel? How can you think that of Donald! Donald!’

But Donald looked steadily at Alleyn and when he spoke again it was gravely and with a certain dignity that became him very well.

He said: ‘Don’t, Bridget. It’s perfectly natural Mr Alleyn should think that I’m afraid of Wits accusing me. I am afraid of it. I didn’t kill Uncle Bunch. I think I was fonder of him than anyone else in the world except you, Bridgie. But I had quarrelled with him. I wish to God I hadn’t. I didn’t kill him. The reason I’m quite ready now to answer any questions about Wits, even if it means implicating myself—’ He stopped and took a deep breath.

‘Yes?’ asked Alleyn.

‘—is that after seeing Wits this evening I believe he murdered my uncle.’

There was a long silence.

‘Motive?’ asked Alleyn at last.

‘He thought he had a big enough hold over me to get control of the money.’

‘Proof?’

‘I’ve none. Only the way he spoke tonight. He’s afraid I believe he’d murder anyone if he’d enough incentive.’

‘That’s not proof, nor anything like it.’

‘No. It seemed good enough,’ said Donald, ‘to bring me here when I might have kept quiet.’

The telephone rang. Alleyn went over to the desk and answered it.

‘Hullo?’

‘Roderick, is that you?’

‘Yes. Who is it, please?’

‘Evelyn Carrados.’

Alleyn looked across to the fireplace. He saw Bridget bend forward swiftly and kiss Donald.

‘Hullo!’ he said. ‘Anything the matter?’

‘Roderick, I’m so worried. I don’t know what to do. Bridgie has gone out without saying a word to anyone. I’ve rung up as many people as I dared and I haven’t an inkling where she is. I’m so terrified she’s done something wild and foolish. I thought she might be with Donald Potter and I wondered if you could tell me his telephone number. Thank Heaven Herbert is out at a regimental dinner, at Tunbridge. I’m distraught with anxiety.’

‘It’s all right, Evelyn,’ said Alleyn. ‘Bridget’s here with me.’

‘With you?’

‘Yes. She wanted to talk to me. She’s quite all right. I’ll bring her back—’

‘Is Donald Potter there?’

‘Yes.’

‘But why? What have they done it for? Roderick, I want to see you. I’ll come and get Bridget, may I?’