‘No,’ Troy said, and he turned quickly and looked at her. She was aware, as if she had never before fully appreciated it, of the difference in their heights. She thought: ‘That’s how he looks when he’s taking statements,’ and became nervous.

‘No?’ he said. ‘Why not?’

‘Because it would be high-falutin, because it would make me feel an ass.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I look upon this case,’ Troy said, and wished her voice would sound more normal, ‘as a sort of test. Perhaps it’s been sent to larn us like acts-of-God; only I must say I always think it’s so unfair to call earthquakes and tidal-waves acts-of-God and not bumper harvests and people like Leonardo and Cezanne.’

‘What the devil,’ Alleyn asked in a mild voice, ‘are you talking about?’

‘Don’t snap at me,’ said Troy. He made a quick movement towards her. ‘No. Please listen. I want, I really do want you to take this case as long as the AC lets you. I really want you to keep me with you this time. We’ve got in a muddle about me and your job. When I say I don’t mind your job you think I’m not telling the truth, and if I ask you questions about these kinds of cases you think I’m being a brave little woman and biting on the bullet.’

She saw his mouth twist in an involuntary smile.

‘Whereas,’ she hurried on, ‘I’m not. I know I didn’t relish having our courtship all muddled up with murder on the premises, and I know I don’t think people ought to hang other people. But you do, and you’re the policeman, not me. And it doesn’t do any good trying to pretend you’re dodging out to pinch a petty larcener when I know jolly well what you are up to, and, to be perfectly honest, am often dying to hear about it.’

‘That’s not quite true, is it—the last bit?’

‘I’d infinitely rather talk about it. I’d infinitely rather feel honestly shocked and upset with you, than vaguely worried all by myself.’

He held out a hand and she went to him. ‘That’s why I said I think this case has been sent to larn you.’

‘Troy,’ Alleyn said, ‘do you know what they say to their best girls in the antipodes?’

‘No.’

‘You’ll do me.’

‘Oh!’

‘You’ll do me, Troy.’

‘I thought perhaps you’d prefer me to remain a shrinking violet.’

‘The truth is, I’ve been a bloody fool and never did and never will deserve you.’

‘Don’t,’ said Troy, ‘let’s talk about deserving.’