Alleyn described his first view and examination of the body. In formal phrases he gave a precise account of the injuries he had found on the body of his friend. Dr Curtis followed with his report on the post-mortem. One of Dimitri’s men gave evidence on the time Lord Robert left Marsdon House. The coroner with a vindictive glance at the audience said he saw no reason to call further evidence, addressed the jury in words that left them in no possible doubt as to the verdict they should return and when they had duly returned it, ordered an adjournment. He then fixed a baleful blue eye on the farthest wall and pronounced an expression of sympathy with the relatives. The whole proceedings had lasted twenty minutes.

‘Swish!’ said Fox when he met Alleyn in the street outside. ‘That’s old “Slap-Bang, Here-we-are-again.” You can’t beat him for speed, can you, sir?’

‘Mercifully, you can’t. Fox, we’re off to Barbicon-Bramley. I’ve borrowed my mother’s car and I’ve a hell of a lot to tell you, and I rather think the spell is wound up.’

‘Sir?’

‘You are quite right, Fox. Never quote, and if you do certainly not from Macbeth.’

Lady Alleyn’s car was parked in a side street. Fox and Alleyn got into it and headed for the Uxbridge Road. On the way Alleyn related Bridget’s and Donald’s and Lady Carrados’s stories. When he had finished Fox grunted and they were both silent for ten minutes.

‘Well,’ said Fox at last, ‘it all points to the same thing doesn’t it, Mr Alleyn?’

‘Yes, Fox. In a dubious sort of way it does.’

‘Still, I don’t see how we can exclude the others.’

‘Nor do I unless we get something definite from these people. If necessary we’ll have to go on to Falconbridge and visit the hospital, but I’m in hopes that Miss Harris’s uncle will come out of his retirement and go back to his gay young rectorish days seventeen years ago.’

‘What a hope!’ said Fox.

‘As you indicate, the chances are thin.’

‘If they couldn’t find this chap O’Brien’s letter on the premises then how can we expect to trace it now, seventeen years later?’

‘Well urged, Brer Fox, well urged. But I fancy we know something now that they didn’t know then.’

‘Oh, well,’ conceded Fox. ‘Maybe. But all the same I wouldn’t give you a tuppenny damn for our chances and that’s flat.’

‘I’m a little more sanguine than that. Well, if we fail here we’ll have to peg away somewhere else.’

‘There’s the missing cloak and hat.’

‘Yes. Any report come in this morning from the postal people?’