‘Mrs Halcut-Hackett. Seen leaving alone by footman at door, Dimitri, and linkman, who offered to call a taxi for her. She refused and walked away. Lord Robert had not left. Dimitri says he thinks Lord Robert came downstairs about this time.

‘Captain Maurice Withers. Seen leaving alone by Dimitri, footman and by several members of a party whom he passed on the steps outside the house. Refused a lift. Footman thinks Capt. W. left after Mrs H-H. Impression confirmed by Dimitri. Lord Robert at foot of stairs.

‘Mr Donald Potter. Seen saying good-bye to Miss O’Brien by Dimitri and by two servants near door into buffet at foot of stairs. Dimitri noticed him meet Lord Robert, appear to avoid him, and go away hurriedly.

‘Sir Daniel Davidson. Seen leaving alone immediately after this by Dimitri and two of the servants.

‘Miss Violet Harris. Secretary to Lady Carrados, seen leaving alone by cloakroom attendant standing at door, to whom she said good night. Unnoticed by anyone else.

‘Mr Trelawney-Caper. Young gentleman who had lost Mr Percy Percival. Asked repeatedly for him. Handed a ten-shilling note to footman who remembers him. Described by footman as being “nicely decorated but not drunk.”

‘Lord Robert Gospell. Both footmen and a linkman saw him go. One footman places his departure immediately after Sir Daniel Davidson’s. The other says it was some minutes later. The cloakroom attendant says it was about two minutes after Miss Harris and five after Sir D.D.’

Alleyn looked up.

‘Where was Dimitri, then?’ he asked. ‘He seems to have faded out.’

‘I asked him,’ said Fox. ‘He said he went into the buffet about the time Sir Daniel left and was kept there for some time. The buffet’s at the foot of the stairs.’

‘Any confirmation of that?’

‘One of his men remembers him there but can’t say exactly when or for how long. He was talking to Sir Herbert Carrados.’

‘To Carrados? I see. How did Dimitri shape when you saw him?’

‘Well,’ said Fox slowly, ‘he’s a pretty cool customer, isn’t he? Foreign, half-Italian, half-Greek, but that’s hardly noticeable in his speech. He answered everything very smoothly and kept saying it was all very regrettable.’

‘I trust he’ll find it even more so,’ said Alleyn and returned to the notebook.

‘The rest,’ said Fox, ‘left after Lord Robert and as far as we can make out, some time after. There are only three names and I don’t fancy they’ll amount to much, but I thought we’d better have them.’

‘When did the Carrados party go? Last of all, of course?’

‘Yes. Sir Herbert and Lady Carrados were at the head of the stairs on the ballroom landing saying good-bye most of this time, but Sir Herbert must have come down to the buffet if it’s right that Dimitri talked to him there. I’ve left Sir Herbert to you, Mr Alleyn. From what I hear of him he’ll need handling.’