‘Not me. She wouldn’t have given me any thanks.’ She slewed round in her chair and looked at Old Ninn. ‘I remember now. I showed it to Mrs Plumtree. Gave it to her.’

‘Well, Ninn? What did you do with the book?’

Old Ninn glared at him. ‘Put it by,’ she said. ‘It was unwholesome.’

‘Where?’

‘I don’t recollect.’

‘In the upstairs study?’

‘Might have been. I don’t recollect.’

‘So much for the book,’ Alleyn said wryly, and turned to Warrender. ‘You, sir, tell us that you actually used the scent spray, lavishly, on Mrs Templeton before the party. There were no ill-effects. What did you do after that?’

‘Do? Nothing. I went out.’

‘Leaving Mr and Mrs Templeton alone together?’

‘Yes. At least …’ His eyes slewed round to look at her. ‘There was Florence.’

‘No, there wasn’t. If you’ll pardon my mentioning it, sir,’ Florence again intervened. ‘I left, just after you did, not being required any further.’

‘Do you agree?’ Alleyn asked Charles Templeton. He drew his hand across his eyes.

‘I? Oh, yes. I think so.’

‘Do you mind telling me what happened then? Between you and your wife?’

‘We talked for a moment or two. Not long.’

‘About?’

‘I asked her not to use the scent I’m afraid I was in a temper about it.’ He glanced at Pinky. ‘I’m sorry, Pinky, I just – didn’t like it. I expect my taste is hopelessly old fashioned.’

‘That’s all right, Charles. My God,’ Pinky added in a low voice, ‘I never want to smell it again, myself, as long as I live.’

‘Did Mrs Templeton agree not to use it again?’

‘No,’ he said at once. ‘She didn’t. She thought me unreasonable.’

‘Did you talk about anything else?’

‘About nothing that I care to recall.’

‘Is that final?’

‘Final,’ Charles said.

‘Did it concern, in some way, Mr Dakers and Colonel Warrender?’

‘Damn it!’ Warrender shouted. ‘He’s said he’s not going to tell you, isn’t it!’

‘It did not concern them,’ Charles said.

‘Where did you go when this conversation ended?’

‘I went downstairs to my study. Richard came in at about that time and was telephoning. We stayed there until the first guests arrived.’

‘And you, Colonel Warrender? Where were you at this time? What did you do when you left the bedroom?’

‘Ah – I was in the drawing-room. She – ah – Mary – came in. She wanted a rearrangement of the tables. Gracefield and the other fella did it and she and I had a drink.’

‘Did she seem quite herself, did you think?’

‘Rather nervy. Bit on edge.’

‘Why?’

‘Been a trying day, isn’t it?’

‘Anything in particular?’

He glanced at Richard. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Nothing else.’

Fox returned. ‘Mr Marchant will be here in about a quarter of an hour, sir,’ he said.

There were signs of consternation from Pinky, Bertie and Timon Gantry.