‘And so he tells poor old Ancred’s killer that there was no arsenic used in the embalming and blows our smoke-screen to hell. As Miss O. would say, what a pal! Where’s my bag? Come on.’

But as they reached the door the telephone rang again.

‘I’ll go,’ Alleyn said. ‘With any luck it’s Curtis.’

It was Dr Curtis. ‘I don’t know whether you’ll like this,’ he said. ‘It’s the Home Office report on the cat, the medicine and the deceased. First analysis completed. No arsenic anywhere.’

‘Good!’ said Alleyn. ‘Now tell them to try for thallium acetate, and ring me at Ancreton when they’ve found it.’

They were to encounter yet another interruption. As they went out to the waiting car, they found Thomas, very white and pinched, on the bottom step.

‘Oh, hallo,’ he said. ‘I was coming to see you. I want to see you awfully.’

‘Important?’ Alleyn said.

‘To me,’ Thomas rejoined with the air of innocence, ‘it’s as important as anything. You see, I came in by the morning train on purpose. I felt I had to. I’m going back this evening.’

‘We’re on our way to Ancreton now.’

‘Really? Then I suppose you wouldn’t…? Or shouldn’t one suggest it?’

‘We can take you with us. Certainly,’ said Alleyn after a fractional pause.

‘Isn’t that lucky?’ said Thomas wistfully and got into the back seat with them. Detective-Sergeant Thompson was already seated by the driver. They drove away in a silence lasting so long that Alleyn began to wonder if Thomas, after all, had nothing to say. At last, however, he plunged into conversation with an abruptness that startled his hearers.

‘First of all,’ said Thomas loudly, ‘I want to apologize for my behaviour last night. Fainting! Well! I thought I left that kind of thing to Pauline. Everybody was so nice, too. The doctors and you,’ he said, smiling wanly at Fox, ‘driving me home and everything. I couldn’t be more sorry.’

‘Very understandable, I’m sure,’ said Fox comfortably. ‘You’d had a nasty shock.’

‘Well, I had. Frightful, really. And the worst of it is, you know, I can’t shake it off. When I did go to sleep it was so beastly. The dreams. And this morning with the family asking questions.’

‘You said nothing, of course,’ said Alleyn.

‘You’d asked me not to, so I didn’t, but they took it awfully badly. Cedric was quite furious, and Pauline said I was siding against the family. The point is, Alleyn, I honestly don’t think I can stand any more. It’s unlike me,’ said Thomas. ‘I must have a temperament after all. Fancy!’

‘What exactly do you want to see us about?’