‘The cause,’ Dr Harkness said, ‘is at present undetermined. She collapsed and did not recover consciousness.’

‘Is Mr Templeton – ?’

‘No,’ they said together. Gantry added: ‘And that is all, gentlemen. Good evening to you.’

Gracefield appeared from the back of the hall, opened the front door, and said: ‘Thank you, gentlemen. If you will step outside.’

They hung fire. A car drew up in the Place. From it emerged a heavily built man, wearing a bowler hat and a tidy overcoat. He walked into the house.

‘Inspector Fox,’ he said.

II

It has been said of Mr Fox that his arrival at any scene of disturbance has the effect of a large and almost silent vacuum cleaner.

Under his influence the gentlemen of the Press were tidied out into Pardoner’s Place where they lingered restively for a long time. The guests, some of whom were attempting to leave, found themselves neatly mustered in the drawing-room. The servants waited quietly in the hall. Mr Fox and Dr Harkness went upstairs. A constable appeared and stood inside the front door.

‘I locked the door,’ Dr Harkness said, with the air of a schoolboy hoping for praise. He produced the key.

‘Very commendable, Doctor,’ said Fox comfortably.

‘Nothing’s been moved. The whole thing speaks for itself.’

‘Quite so. Very sad.’

Fox laid his bowler on the bed, knelt by the sheet and turned it back. ‘Strong perfume.’ he said. He drew out his spectacles, placed them and looked closely into the dreadful face.

‘You can see for yourself,’ Dr Harkness said. ‘Traces of the stuff all over her.’

‘Quite so,’ Fox repeated. ‘Very profuse.’

He contemplated the Slaypest, but did not touch it. He rose and made a little tour of the room. He had very bright eyes for a middle-aged person.

‘If it’s convenient, sir,’ he said, ‘I’ll have a word with Mr Templeton.’

‘He’s pretty well knocked out. His heart’s dicky. I made him lie down.’

‘Perhaps you’d just have a little chat with him yourself, Doctor. Would you be good enough to say I won’t keep him more than a minute? No need to disturb him: I’ll come to his room. Where would it be?’

‘Next door.’

‘Nice and convenient. I’ll give you a minute with him and then I’ll come in. Thank you, Doctor.’

Dr Harkness looked sharply at him, but he was restoring his spectacles to their case and had turned to contemplate the view from the window.

‘Pretty square, this,’ said Mr Fox.

Dr Harkness went out.

Fox quietly locked the door and went to the telephone. He dialled a number and asked for an extension.

‘Mr Alleyn?’ he said. ‘Fox, here. It’s about this case in Pardoner’s Place. There are one or two little features …’

III