‘I know! It sounds demented, doesn’t it? I repeated it like you, and Herbert said: “Well, antiques. Pieces like the escritoire in my study.” And then he leaned forward and said: “Do you think he knew anything about that?” I said: “Herbert, what are you talking about?” and he said: “I suppose I’m going to pieces. I feel I have been surrounded by treachery all my life!” It sounds just silly, but it frightened me. I rather lost my head, and asked him how he could talk like that. I began to say that Bridget was always loyal, when he burst out laughing. “Your daughter,” he said, “loyal! How far do you suppose her loyalty would take her? Would you care to put it to the test?”’

Lady Carrados pressed her hands together.

‘He’s always disliked Bridgie. He’s always been jealous of her. I remember once, it must be two years ago now, they had some sort of quarrel, and Herbert actually hurt her. He hurt her arm. I should never have found out if I hadn’t gone to her room and seen the marks. I think he sees some reflection of Paddy in her. Roderick, do you think Herbert can know about Paddy and me? Is there the smallest possibility that the blackmailer has written to him?’

‘It is possible, of course,’ said Alleyn slowly, ‘but I don’t think it quite fits in. You say this extraordinary change in Carrados began after Miss Harris and Bridget talked of blackmail, and you showed you were startled?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do you think your obvious dismay could have suggested to him that you yourself were the victim of blackmail?’

‘I don’t know. It certainly suggested something pretty ominous,’ said Lady Carrados, with the ghost of a smile. ‘He’s in the most extraordinary state of mind, it terrifies me.’

‘When did you marry him, Evelyn?’

‘When? Two years after Paddy died. He had wanted me to marry him before. Herbert was a very old friend of my family’s. He had always been rather attached to me.’

‘He’s never given any sign of this sort of behaviour before?’

‘Not this sort. Of course, he’s rather difficult sometimes. He’s very touchy. He’s eighteen years older than I am, and he hates to be reminded of it. One has to be rather tactful. I suppose he’s vain. Bridgie thinks so, I know.’

The gentle voice, with its tranquil, level note, faltered for a moment, and then went on steadily. ‘I suppose you wonder why I married him, don’t you?’

‘A little, yes. Perhaps you felt that you needed security. You had had your great adventure.’