"No," said Nigel. "If I had any, they are overruled by curiosity. I'll go back to my cache-cache."

"Thank you. Here she comes."

Nigel slipped through the doorway in the set. He discovered that, by moving his seat, he could leave the door half open and get a fuller view of the stage without being visible. In this way he was able to see Stephanie Vaughan when she came on to the scene. She had changed her dress and was wearing a dark fur wrap. The stage make-up was gone, and she looked pale and rather tired. There was no hint of histrionics in her manner now. She was grave and dignified, and a little remote. "Why, it's not the same woman," thought Nigel.

"You sent for me," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry if my message sounded peremptory," answered Alleyn.

"Why not? You're in charge."

"Will you sit down?"

She sank into an arm-chair, and there was a little silence.

"What do you want to ask me?" she said at last.

"Several questions. The first—where were you during the black-out at the beginning of the last act?"

"In my dressing-room, changing. Then I went in to see Felix."

"Was anyone with you? In your own room, I mean?"

"My dresser."

"All the time?"

"I've no idea. From my dressing-room I couldn't see when the stage lights went on."

"I should have thought you could hear the dialogue."

"Possibly. I didn't listen."

"Was Mr. Gardener still in his room when you left it?"

"No. He went out first. He came on before I did."

"When did you go out on to the stage?"

"When the scene was over."

"Yes. Thank you. What happened after Bathgate and I left your dressing-room?"

The question must have taken her by surprise. Nigel heard her draw in her breath. When she spoke, however, her voice was quite even.

"After you left," she said, "there was a scene."

"There was the making of one while we were there. What happened?"

She leant back wearily, her wrap slipped down. She winced, as if something had hurt her, and sat forward again, pulling the fur collar over her shoulders.

"You are hurt?" said Alleyn. "Your shoulder. You put your hand up to it."

"Arthur hit me."

"What!"

"Oh, yes."

"Let me see it."

She let her wrap fall, and pulled aside her dress, hunching up her shoulder. Nigel could see the bruise. Alleyn bent over her without touching her.

"What did Gardener do?"

"He wasn't there. I'm beginning half-way, I suppose. The moment you had gone I made Felix leave me. He didn't want to, of course, but I had to deal with Arthur alone, and I insisted. He didn't like going, but he went."

"And then?"