‘Why not? Clear as a pikestaff.’

‘Our job,’ Alleyn said patiently, ‘is to collect all the available information and present it to the coroner. At the moment we are not drawing any conclusions. Come, sir,’ he said as Warrender still looked mulish, ‘I’m sure that, as a soldier, you’ll recognize the position. It’s a matter of procedure. After all, to be perfectly frank about it, a great many suicides as well as homicides have been rigged to look like accidents.’

‘Either suggestion’s outrageous.’

‘And will, we hope, soon turn out to be so.’

‘But, good God, is there anything at all to make you suppose – ?’ He stopped and jerked his hands ineloquently.

‘Suppose what?’

‘That it could be – either? Suicide – or murder?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Alleyn said. ‘Could be. Could be.’

‘What? What evidence – ?’

‘I’m afraid I’m not allowed to discuss details.’

‘Why the hell not?’

‘God bless my soul!’ Alleyn exclaimed. ‘Do consider. Suppose it was murder – for all I know you might have done it. You can’t expect me to make you a present of what may turn out to be the police case against you.’

‘I think you must be dotty,’ said Colonel Warrender profoundly.

‘Dotty or sane, I must get on with my job. Inspector Fox and I propose to have a word with those wretched people we’ve cooped up over the way. Would you rather return to Mr Templeton, sir?’

‘My God, no!’ he ejaculated with some force and then looked hideously discomfited.

‘Why not?’ Alleyn asked coolly. ‘Have you had a row with him?’

‘No!’

‘Well, I’m afraid it’s a case of returning to him or staying with me.’

‘I … God dammit, I’ll stick to you.’

‘Right. Here we go, then.’

Bertie, Pinky and Timon Gantry seemed hardly to have moved since he last saw them. Bertie was asleep in his chair and resembled an overdressed baby. Pinky had been crying. Gantry now was reading ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore. He laid it aside and rose to his feet.

‘I don’t want to be awkward,’ Gantry said, ‘but I take leave to ask why the hell we’re being mewed up in this interminable and intolerable fashion.’

He used what was known in the theatre as The Terrifying Tone. He moved towards Alleyn who was almost his own height.

‘This room,’ Bertie faintly complained as he opened his eyes, ‘would appear to be inhabited by angry giants.’