Somehow they persuaded Bridget to go. The next thing that happened was Sir Daniel Davidson, who stood over Evelyn Carrados like an elegant dragon.

‘You’re all right,’ he said. ‘Lord Robert, see if you can open that window.’

Lord Robert succeeded in opening the window. A damp hand seemed to be laid on his face. He caught sight of street lamps blurred by impalpable mist.

Davidson held Lady Carrados’s wrist in his long fingers and looked at her with a sort of compassionate exasperation.

‘You women,’ he said. ‘You impossible women.’

‘I’m all right. I simply felt giddy.’

‘You ought to lie down. You’ll faint and make an exhibition of yourself.’

‘No I won’t. Has anybody—?’

‘Nobody’s noticed anything. Will you go up to your room for half an hour?’

‘I haven’t got a room. It’s not my house.’

‘Of course it’s not. The cloakroom, then.’

‘I—yes. Yes, I’ll do that.’

‘Sir Daniel!’ shouted Lucy Lorrimer in the corner.

‘For Heaven’s sake go back to her,’ implored Lady Carrados, ‘or she’ll be here.’

‘Sir Daniel!’

‘Damn!’ whispered Davidson. ‘Very well, I’ll go back to her. I expect your maid’s here, isn’t she? Good. Lord Robert, will you take Lady Carrados?’

‘I’d rather go alone. Please!’

‘Very well. But please go.’

He made a grimace and returned to Lucy Lorrimer. Lady Carrados stood up, holding her bag.

‘Come on,’ said Lord Robert. ‘Nobody’s paying any attention.’

He took her elbow and they went out into the hall. It was deserted. Two men stood just in the entrance to the cloakroom. They were Captain Withers and Donald Potter. Donald glanced round, saw his uncle, and at once began to move upstairs. Withers followed him. Dimitri came out of the buffet and also went upstairs. The hall was filled with the sound of the band and with the thick confusion of voices and sliding feet.

‘Bunchy,’ whispered Lady Carrados. ‘You must do as I ask you. Leave me for three minutes. I—’

‘I know what’s up, m’dear. Don’t do it. Don’t leave your bag. Face it and let him go to the devil.’

She pressed her hand against her mouth and looked wildly at him.

‘You know?’

‘Yes, and I’ll help. I know who it is. You don’t, do you? See here—there’s a man at the Yard—whatever it is—’

A look of something like relief came into her eyes.

‘But you don’t know what it’s about. Let me go. I’ve got to do it. Just this once more.’

She pulled her arm away and he watched her cross the hall and slowly climb the stairs.

After a moment’s hesitation he followed her.

CHAPTER SIX

Bunchy Goes Back to the Yard

ALLEYN CLOSED HIS FILE and looked at his watch. Two minutes to one. Time for him to pack up and go home. He yawned, stretched his cramped fingers, walked over to the window and pulled aside the blind. The row of lamps hung like a necklace of misty globes along the margin of the Embankment.