‘Evelyn? I’ve rung you up to ask if you and your husband and Bridget will come to my office at the Yard tonight. It’s some more tidying up of this affair. If possible I’d like to have a word with you first. Would you rather it was here or in your house?’

‘In your office, please, Roderick. It would be easier. Shall I come now?’

‘If you will. Don’t be fussed. I’m so sorry to bother you.’

‘I’ll come at once,’ said the faint voice.

Fox returned with a Times which he laid on Alleyn’s desk. He pointed a stubby finger at the personal column.

‘What about the third from the top?’ he said.

Alleyn read it aloud.

‘“Childie Darling. Living in exile. Longing. Only want Daughter. Daddy.”’

‘Um,’ said Alleyn. ‘Has daddy had anything else to say to Childie during the last week or so?’

‘Not during the last fortnight, anyway. I’ve looked up the files.’

‘There’s nothing else in the agony column. The others are old friends, aren’t they?’

‘That’s right.’

‘We’d better ask Father Times about Daddy.’

‘I’ll do that,’ said Fox, ‘and I’ll get going on these people for tonight.’

‘Thank you, Fox. I’ve tackled Lady Carrados who is coming to see me now. If you’ve time I’d be glad if you’d fix the others. I ought to go and see Lady Mildred about the arrangements for tomorrow.’

‘You’ll have time for that later on.’

‘Yes. I must report to the AC before this evening. I’ll go along now, I think, and see if he’s free. Ask them to show Lady Carrados up here, Fox, and ring through when she arrives.’

‘Very good, Mr Alleyn.’

Alleyn saw the Assistant Commissioner’s secretary, who sent him in to the great man. Alleyn laid the file on the desk. The AC disregarded it.

‘Well, Rory, how goes it? I hear you’ve got half the Yard mudlarking on Chelsea Embankment and the other half tailing the aristocracy. What’s it all about?’ asked the AC, who had been kept perfectly au fait with the case but whose favourite pose was one of ignorance. ‘I suppose you want me to read this damn nonsense?’ he added, laying his hand on the file.

‘If you will, sir. I’ve summed-up at the end. With your approval I’m collecting the relevant people here tonight and if the interviews go the right way I hope to be able to make an arrest. If you agree, I’d like a blank warrant.’

‘You’re a pretty cool customer, aren’t you?’ grunted the AC. ‘And if the interviews go all wrong you return the warrant and think of something else? That it?’

‘Yes, sir. That’s it.’

‘See here, Rory, our position in this affair is that we’ve got to have a conviction. If your customer gets off on this sort of evidence, opposing counsel is going to make us look like so many Aunt Sallies. It’s so damn shaky. Can’t you hear what old Harrington-Barr will do with you if he’s briefed? Make you look a boiled egg, my good man, unless you’ve got a damning admission or two to shove at the jury. And all this blackmail stuff. How are you going to get any of these people to charge their blackmailer? You know what people are over blackmail.’