‘Precisely. He believed that his health was precarious. Without making any specific accusations he suggested that certain members of his family were acting separately or in collusion against him. I believe, in view of your own exceedingly lucid account,’ Mr Rattisbon dipped his head again, ‘that he referred, in fact, to these practical jokes. Mrs Alleyn will have described fully the extraordinary incident of the portrait. An admirable likeness, if I may say so. She will have related how Sir Henry left the theatre in anger.’

‘Yes.’

‘Subsequently the butler came to me with a request from Sir Henry that I should wait upon him in his room. I found him still greatly perturbed. In my presence, and with considerable violence, he tore up the, as I considered, more reasonable of the two drafts, and, in short, threw it on the fire. A Mr and Mrs Candy were shown in and witnessed his signature to the second document. Sir Henry then informed me that he proposed to marry Miss Clark in a week’s time and would require my services in the drawing up of a marriage settlement. I persuaded him to postpone this matter until the morning and left him, still agitated and inflamed. That, in effect, is all I can tell you.’

‘It’s been enormously helpful,’ Alleyn said. ‘One other point if you don’t mind. Sir Henry’s two drafts are not dated. He didn’t by any chance tell you when he wrote them?’

‘No. His behaviour and manner on this point were curious. He stated that he would enjoy no moment’s peace until both Wills had been drawn up in my office. But no. Except that the drafts were made before Tuesday, the twentieth, I cannot help you here.’

‘I’d be grateful if they might be put away and left untouched.’

‘Of course,’ said Mr Rattisbon, greatly flustered, ‘by all means.’

Alleyn placed the papers between two clean sheets and returned them to their drawer.

That done, he rose, and Mr Rattisbon at once became very lively. He escorted Alleyn to the door, shook hands and uttered a string of valedictory phrases. ‘Quite so, quite so,’ he gabbled. ‘Disquieting. Trust no foundation but nevertheless disquieting. Always depend upon your discretion. Extraordinary. In many ways, I fear, an unpredictable family. No doubt if counsel is required…Well, goodbye. Thank yer. Kindly remember me to Mrs Alleyn. Thank yer.’