‘Here in the study. Charles was there. He looked ill and I was worried about him. He didn’t seem to want to talk. I kept getting cut off. It was important, and I had to wait. She – wasn’t very pleased about that. The first people were arriving when I’d finished.’

‘So what did you do?’

‘Went into the drawing-room with Charles and did my stuff.’

‘Had you brought her some Parma violets?’

‘I? No. She hated violets.’

‘Did you see them in her room?’

‘I didn’t go up to her room. I’ve told you – I was here in the study.’

‘When had you last been in her room?’

‘This morning.’

‘Did you visit it between then and the final time when you returned from the Pegasus and this disturbing scene took place?’

‘I’ve told you. How could I? I …’ His voice changed. ‘I was with Anelida until she left and I followed her into the Pegasus.’

‘Well,’ Alleyn said after a pause, ‘if all this is provable, and I don’t see why it shouldn’t be, you’re in the clear.’

Warrender gave a sharp ejaculation and turned quickly, but Richard said flatly: ‘I don’t understand.’

‘If our reading of the facts is the true one, this crime was to all intents and purposes committed between the time (somewhere about six o’clock) when Mrs Templeton was sprayed with scent by Colonel Warrender and the time fixed by a Press photographer at twenty-five minutes to eight when she returned to her room with you. She never left her room and died in it a few minutes after you had gone.’

Richard flinched at the last phrase but seemed to have paid little attention to the earlier part. For the first time, he was looking at his father who had turned his back to them.

‘Colonel Warrender,’ Alleyn said, ‘why did you go to the Pegasus?’

Without moving he said: ‘Does it matter? I wanted to get things straight. With the gel.’

‘But you didn’t see her?’

‘No.’

‘Maurice,’ Richard said abruptly.

Colonel Warrender faced him.

‘I call you that still,’ Richard went on. ‘I suppose it’s not becoming but I can’t manage anything else. There are all sorts of adjustments to be arranged, aren’t there? I know I’m not making this easy for either of us. You see one doesn’t know how one’s meant to behave. But I hope in time to do better: you’ll have to give me time.’

‘I’ll do that,’ Warrender said unevenly.

He made a slight movement as if to hold out his hand, glanced at Alleyn and withdrew it.

‘I think,’ Alleyn said, ‘that I should get on with my job. I’ll let you know when we need you.’

And he went out, leaving them helplessly together.

In the hall he encountered Fox.