‘Had you seen her?’

‘Not for some time, I think.’

‘So you remember nobody in the hall except your uncle and Miss O’Brien?’

‘That’s right. I said good night to Bridgie and went away.’

‘Alone?’

‘Yes.’

‘Captain Withers was not at the ball?’

‘Yes, but he’d gone.’

‘Why did you not go away together?’

‘Wits was going on somewhere. He had a date.’

‘Do you know where he went and with whom?’

‘No.’

‘When you left Marsdon House what did you do?’

‘Some people waiting outside for a taxi asked me to go on with them to the Sauce Boat, but I didn’t want to. To get rid of them I walked to the corner to look for a taxi.’

‘Which corner?’

‘First on the left as you come out of Marsdon House. Belgrave Road, I think it is.’

‘Anyone see you?’

‘I don’t know. Shouldn’t think so. There was a damned heavy mist lying like a blanket over everything?’

‘We’ll have to find your taxi.’

‘But I didn’t get a taxi.’

‘What!’

Donald began to speak rapidly, his words tumbling over each other, as though he had suddenly opened all the doors of his thoughts.

‘There wasn’t a taxi at the corner, so I walked. I walked on and on through Eaton Square. It was late—after three o’clock. Lots of taxis passed me, of course, but they were all engaged. I was thinking about things. About Bridget. I meant to keep her out of this but I suppose you’ll hear everything now. Everything will be dragged out and—and made to look awful. Bridgie, and—and Uncle Bunch—and taking my medical—and everything. I hardly noticed where I was going. It’s queer walking through mist. Your footsteps sound odd. Everything seemed thin and simple. I can’t describe it. I went on and on and presently there weren’t any more taxis and I was in the Kings Road so I just walked home. Past the Chelsea Palace and then off to the right into Sling Street. That’s all.’

‘Did you meet anyone?’

‘I suppose I must have met a few people. I didn’t notice.’

‘What time did you get home?’

‘I didn’t notice.’

Alleyn looked gravely at him.

‘I want you, please, to try very hard to remember if you met anybody on that walk, particularly in the early stages, just after you left Marsdon House. I see no reason why I should not point out the importance of this. As far as we can make out your uncle left the house a few minutes after you did. He, too, walked a short way round the square. He hailed a taxi and was joined at the last minute by a man in evening dress who got into the taxi with him. It is the identity of this man that we are anxious to establish.’