‘There’s one other thing,’ said Fox. ‘The reports have come through from the post offices. A clerk at the Main Western District says that during the rush hour yesterday someone left a parcel on the counter. He found it later on in the day. It was soft, about the right weight and had five bob in tuppenny stamps on it, one and fivepence more than was necessary. He remembers the address was to somewhere in China and it was written in script. So my Private Hoo Flung Dung may have been a fair guess. We’ve got on to Mount Pleasant and it’s too late. A parcels post went out to China this afternoon.’

‘Blast!’ said Alleyn.

‘I’ll be off,’ said Fox, ‘and get her ladyship.’

While he waited for Lady Carrados, Alleyn cut the little notice out of The Times. After a moment’s consideration he unlocked a drawer in his desk and took out Mrs Halcut-Hackett’s gold cigarette-case. He opened it and neatly gummed the notice inside the lid.

Fox showed Lady Carrados in and went away.

‘I’m so sorry, Evelyn,’ said Alleyn. ‘I’ve been closeted with my superior. Have you been here long?’

‘No. What is it now, please, Roderick?

‘It’s this. I want you to allow what may seem a rather drastic step. I want you to give me permission to talk to your husband, in front of you, about Paddy O’Brien.’

‘You mean—tell him that we were not married?’

‘If it seems necessary.’

‘I can’t.’

‘I shouldn’t do it if it wasn’t vitally necessary. I do not believe, Evelyn, that he would’—Alleyn hesitated—‘that he would be as shocked as you imagine.’

‘But I know he would be terribly shocked. Of course he would.’

‘I think I can promise you that you have nothing to fear from this decision. I mean that Carrados’s attitude to yourself and Bridget will not be materially affected by it.’

‘I cannot believe that. I cannot believe that he will not be dreadfully wounded. Even violent.’

‘I promise you that I honestly believe that it may help you both to a better understanding.’

‘If only I could think that!’

‘It will certainly help us to see justice done on your blackmailer. Evelyn, I don’t want to be intolerably priggish, but I do believe it is your duty to do this.’

‘I had almost made up my mind to tell him.’

‘All the better. Come now. Look at me! Will you let me deal with it?’

She looked at him. Quite deliberately he used the whole force of that thing people call personality and of which he knew—how could he not know?—he had his share. He imposed his will on hers as surely as if it was a tangible instrument. And he saw her give way.

She raised her hands and let them fall limply back on her lap.