He supposed that those moments in the hall would be regarded by the police as highly significant. The papers said that the police wished to establish the identity of the second fare. Naturally, since he was obviously the murderer! The taxi-driver had described him as a well-dressed gentleman who, with Lord Robert, had entered the cab about two hundred yards up the street from Marsdon House. ‘Was it one of the guests?’ asked the paper. That meant the police would get statements from everyone who left the house about the same time as Lord Robert. The last thing in the world that Sir Daniel wanted was to appear as a principal witness at the inquest. That sort of publicity did a fashionable physician no good. His name in block capitals, as likely as not, across the front sheets of the penny press and before you knew where you were some fool would say: ‘Davidson? Wasn’t he mixed up in that murder case?’ He might even have to say he saw the Halcut-Hackett woman go out, with Withers in hot pursuit. Mrs Halcut-Hackett was one of his most lucrative patients. On the other hand, he would look extremely undignified if they found out that he was one of the last to leave and had not come forward to say so. It might even look suspicious. Sir Daniel swore picturesquely in French, reached for his telephone and dialled WHI1212.

MYSTERY IN MAYFAIR
Lord Robert Gospel suffocated in Taxi
Who was the second fare?

Colombo Dimitri in his smart flat in the Cromwell Road drew the attention of his confidential servant to the headlines.

‘What a tragedy,’ he said. ‘It may be bad for us at the beginning of the season. Nobody feels very gay after a murder. He was so popular, too. It is most unfortunate.’

‘Yes, monsieur,’ said the confidential servant.

‘I must have been almost the last person to speak with him,’ continued Dimitri, ‘unless, of course, this dastardly assassin addressed him. Lord Robert came to me in the hall and asked me if I had seen Mrs Halcut-Hackett. I told him I had just seen her go away. He thanked me and left. I, of course, remained in the hall. Several of the guests spoke to me after that, I recollect. And then, an hour later, when I had left, but my men were still busy, the police rang up. He was a charming personality. I am very, very sorry.’

‘Yes, monsieur.’

‘It would be a pleasant gesture for us to send flowers. Remind me of it. In the meantime, if you please, no gossip. I must instruct the staff on this point. I absolutely insist upon it. The affair must not be discussed.’

‘C’est entendu, monsieur.’

‘In respect of malicious tittle-tattle,’ said Dimitri virtuously, ‘our firm is in the well-known position of Caesar’s wife.’ He glanced at his servant’s face. It wore a puzzled expression. ‘She did not appear in gossip columns,’ explained Dimitri.