‘A lie. The child has always hated me. Everything I have tried to do for her—a lie, a wicked spiteful lie!’

‘Fox,’ said Alleyn, ‘will you ask Sir Daniel to come in?’

Sir Daniel had evidently been sitting in the secretary’s office, as he came in almost immediately. When he saw the two Carradoses and Bridget, he greeted them exactly as if they were fellow guests at a party. He then shook hands with the Assistant Commissioner, and turned to Alleyn.

‘Sir Daniel,’ said Alleyn. ‘I’ve asked you to come in as I understand you were witness to a scene which Miss O’Brien has just described to us. It took place about two years ago. Do you remember that Miss O’Brien rang you up and asked you to come and see her mother who was unwell?’

‘That has happened more than once,’ said Davidson.

‘On this particular visit you went into the study and talked to Miss O’Brien about a small French writing-cabinet.’

Davidson moved his eyebrows.

‘Oh, yes?’

‘Do you remember it?’

‘I do. Very well.’

‘You told her that there was probably a secret drawer in the box. Then you went upstairs to see Lady Carrados.’

‘Yes. That’s how it was, I think.’

‘When you returned, were Miss O’Brien and Sir Herbert together in the study?’

‘Yes,’ said Davidson, and set his lips in an extremely firm line.

‘Will you describe the scene that followed?’

‘I am afraid not, Mr Alleyn.’

‘Why not?’

‘Let us say, for reasons of professional etiquette.’

Lady Carrados said: ‘Sir Daniel, if you are thinking of me, I implore you to tell them what they want to know. I want the truth as much as anyone here. If I don’t know the truth now, I shall go to pieces.’

Davidson looked at her in astonishment.

‘You want me to tell them about that afternoon?’

‘Yes, yes, I do.’

‘And you, Carrados?’ Davidson stared at Carrados, as if he were a sort of curiosity.

‘Davidson, I implore you to keep your head. I am sure you saw nothing that could be construed—that could be regarded as evidence—that—Davidson, you know me. You know that I’m not a vindictive man. You know.’

‘Come,’ said Alleyn, ‘we can cut this short. Sir Daniel, did you examine Miss O’Brien’s arm when you returned to the study?’

‘I did,’ said Davidson, turning his back on Carrados.

‘What did you find?’

‘A certain amount of contusion, for which I prescribed a lotion.’

‘To what cause did you attribute these bruises?’

‘They suggested that the arm had been tightly held, and twisted.’

‘What were the relative positions of Sir Herbert and his stepdaughter when you came into the study?’

‘He held her by the arm.’

‘Would it be correct to say he was storming at her?’

Davidson looked thoughtfully at Bridget. They exchanged half-smiles. ‘He was shouting a good deal, certainly,’ said Davidson dryly.