‘That’s all,’ said Fenella, ‘in our part. Of course there’s Panty’ (Cedric moaned), ‘Caroline Able and the school in the West Wing. Aunt Pauline’s helping them, you know. They’re terribly short staffed. That’s all.’

‘All?’ cried Cedric. ‘You don’t mean to tell me Sonia’s gone?’

‘No, she’s there. I’d forgotten her,’ said Fenella shortly.

‘Well, Fenella, all I can say is you’ve an enviable faculty for forgetting. You’ll be saying next that everyone’s reconciled to Sonia.’

‘Is there any point in discussing it?’ said Paul Kentish very coldly.

‘It’s the only topic of any interest at Ancreton,’ Cedric rejoined. ‘Personally I find it vastly intriguing. I’ve been telling Mrs Alleyn all about it in the train.’

‘Honestly, Cedric,’ said Paul and Fenella together, ‘you are!’

Cedric gave a crowing laugh and they drove on in an uncomfortable silence. Feeling a little desperate, Troy at last began to talk to Paul Kentish. He was a pleasant fellow, she thought, serious-minded, but friendly and ready to speak about his war service. He had been wounded in the leg during the Italian campaign and was still having treatment. Troy asked him what he was going to do when he was discharged, and was surprised to see him turn rather pink.

‘As a matter of fact I rather thought—well, actually I had wondered about the police,’ said Paul.

‘My dear, how terrifying,’ Cedric interposed.

‘Paul’s the only one of us,’ Fenella explained, ‘who really doesn’t want to have anything to do with the theatre.’

‘I would have liked to go on in the army,’ Paul added, ‘only now I’m no good for that. Perhaps, I don’t know, but perhaps I’d be no good for the police either.’

‘You’d better talk to my husband when he comes back,’ Troy said, wondering if Alleyn would mind very much if he did.

‘I say!’ said Paul. ‘That would be perfectly marvellous if you really mean it.’

‘Well, I mean he could just tell you whether your limp would make any difference.’

‘How glad I am,’ Cedric remarked, ‘about my duodenal ulcer! I mean I needn’t even pretend I want to be brave or strenuous. No doubt I’ve inherited the Old Person’s guts.’

‘Are you going on the stage?’ Troy asked Fenella.

‘I expect so now the war’s over. I’ve been a chauffeur for the duration.’