They made enthusiastic noises. It was impossible, Anelida found, not to be moved by their friendliness but it struck her as quite extraordinary that they could switch so readily to this congratulatory vein. She caught a look of – what? Surprise? Resignation? in Alleyn’s eye and was astounded when he gave her the faintest shadow of a wink.

‘Delightful though it is to refresh ourselves with this news,’ he said, ‘I’m afraid I must bring you back to the matter in hand. How did the row in the conservatory arise?’

Pinky and Bertie gave him a look in which astonishment mingled with reproach.

Richard said quickly: ‘Mary came into the conservatory while we were discussing the casting of my play, Husbandry in Heaven. I should have told her – warned her. I didn’t and she felt I hadn’t been frank about it.’

‘I’m sorry, but I shall have to ask you exactly what she said.’

He saw at once that Pinky, Saracen and Gantry were going to refuse. They looked quickly at one another and Gantry said rather off-handedly: ‘I imagine none of us remembers in any detail. When Mary threw a temperament she said all sorts of things that everybody knew she didn’t mean.’

‘Did she, for instance, make threats of any sort?’

Gantry stood up. ‘For the last time,’ he said, ‘I warn you all that you’re asking for every sort of trouble if you let yourselves be led into making ill-considered statements about matters that are entirely beside the point. For the last time I suggest that you consider your obligations to your profession and your careers. Keep your tongues behind your teeth or, by God, you’ll regret it.’

Bertle, looking frightened, said to Pinky: ‘He’s right, you know. Or isn’t he?’

‘I suppose so,’ she agreed unhappily. ‘There is a limit – I suppose. All the same …’

‘If ever you’ve trusted yourself to my direction,’ Gantry said, ‘you’ll do so now.’

‘All right.’ She looked at Alleyn. ‘Sorry.’

Alleyn said: ‘Then I must ask Colonel Warrender and Mr Templeton. Did Miss Bellamy utter threats of any sort?’

Warrender said: ‘In my opinion, Charles, this may be a case for a solicitor. One doesn’t know what turn things may take. Meantime, wait and see, isn’t it?’

‘Very well,’ Charles said. ‘Very well.’

‘Mr Dakers?’ Alleyn asked.

‘I’m bound by the general decision,’ Richard said and Anelida, after a troubled look at him, added reluctantly:

‘And I by yours.’

‘In that case,’ Alleyn said, ‘there’s only one thing to be done. We must appeal to the sole remaining witness.’

‘Who the hell’s that!’ Warrender barked out.

‘Will you see if you can get him, Fox? Mr Montague Marchant,’ said Alleyn.

IV