‘This must be right. I swear it must be right. I can’t be feeling this alone. Troy?’

‘Not now,’ Troy whispered. ‘No more, now. Please.’

‘Yes.’

‘Please.’

He stooped, took her face between his hands, and kissed her hard on the mouth. He felt her come to life beneath his lips. Then he let her go.

‘And don’t think I shall ask you to forgive me,’ he said. ‘You’ve no right to let this go by. You’re too damn particular by half, my girl. I’m your man and you know it.’

They stared at each other.

‘That’s the stuff to give the troops,’ Alleyn added. ‘The arrogant male.’

‘The arrogant turkey-cock,’ said Troy shakily.

‘I know, I know. But at least you didn’t find it unendurable. Troy, for God’s sake can’t we be honest with each other? When I kissed you just then you seemed to meet me like a flame. Could I have imagined that?’

‘No.’

‘It was as if you shouted with your whole body that you loved me. How can I not be arrogant?’

‘How can I not be shaken?’

When he saw that she was indeed greatly shaken an intolerable wave of compassion drowned his thoughts. He stammered. ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’

Troy began to speak slowly.

‘Let me go away now. I want to think. I will try to be honest. I promise you I did not believe I loved you. It seemed to me that I couldn’t love you when I resented so much the feeling that you made some sort of demand whenever we met. I don’t understand physical love. I don’t know how much it means. I’m just plain frightened, and that’s a fact.’

‘You shall go. I’ll get a taxi. Wait a moment.’

He ran out and got a taxi. When he returned she was standing in front of the fire holding her cap in her hand and looked rather small and lost. He brought her coat and dropped it lightly across her shoulders.

‘I’ve been very weak,’ said Troy. ‘When I said I’d come I thought I would keep it all very peaceful and impersonal. You looked so worn and troubled and it was so easy just to do this. And now see what’s happened?’

‘The skies have opened and the stars have fallen. I feel as if I’d run the world in the last hour. And now you must leave me.’

He took her to the taxi. Before he shut the door he said: ‘Your most devoted turkey-cock.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Alleyn Marshals the Protagonists

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER’S clock struck a quarter to nine as Alleyn walked into the room.

‘Hello, Rory.’

‘Good evening, sir.’

‘As you have no doubt observed with your trained eye, my secretary is not present. So you may come off the official rocks. Sit down and light your pipe.’

‘Thank you,’ said Alleyn.