‘And after that, what did you do?’

He could have sworn that she made a considerable effort to collect herself and that his question had alarmed her. ‘I don’t remember,’ she said, and then added: ‘Went back to my room.’ She had opened her eyes and was watching him very warily.

‘Are you sure, Ninn? Didn’t you have a look at Mr Templeton in the dressing-room?’

‘I’ve forgotten. I might have. I believe I did. You can’t think of everything,’ she added crossly.

‘How was he? How did you find him?’

‘How would you expect him to be?’ she countered. ‘Very low. Didn’t speak. Upset. Naturally. With his trouble, it might have been the death of him. The shock and all.’

‘How long were you in the dressing-room?’

‘I don’t remember. Till the police came and ordered everybody about.’

‘Did you,’ Alleyn asked her, ‘go into the bedroom?’

She waited for a long time. ‘No,’ she said at last.

‘Are you sure? You didn’t go through into the bathroom or begin to tidy the room?’

‘No.’

‘Or touch the body?’

‘I didn’t go into the bedroom.’

‘And you didn’t let Florence go in either?’

‘What’s she been telling you?’

‘That she wanted to go in and that you – very properly – told her that the doctor had forbidden it.’

‘She was hysterical. She’s a silly girl. Bad in some ways.’

‘Did Mr Templeton go into the bedroom?’

‘He had occasion,’ she said with great dignity, ‘to pass through it in order to make use of the convenience. That is not forbidden, I hope?’

‘Naturally not.’

‘Very well then,’ she stifled a hiccough and rose. ‘I’m going to bed,’ she said loudly and, as there was nothing further to be collected from her, they let her out.

Fox offered assistance but was rebuffed. She tacked rapidly towards the door.

He opened it quickly.

There, on the landing, looking remarkably uncomfortable, was Richard Dakers.

V

He had been caught, it was evident, in the act of moving away from the door. Now, he stood stockstill, an uncomfortable smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. Old Ninn stopped short when she saw him, appeared to get her bearings and went up to him.

‘Ninn,’ he said looking past her at Alleyn and speaking with most unconvincing jauntiness, ‘what have you been up to!’

She stared into his face. ‘Speak up for yourself,’ she said. ‘They’ll put upon you if you don’t.’

‘Hadn’t you better go to bed? You’re not yourself, you know.’

‘Exactly,’ Ninn said with hauteur. ‘I’m going.’

She made off at an uncertain gait towards the back stairs.

Alleyn said: ‘Mr Dakers, what are you doing up here?’

‘I wanted to get into my room.’

‘I’m afraid we’re occupying it at the moment. But if there’s anything you need …’