‘Mother, wait a minute—’

‘I shall not wait a second. Papa, I have reason to believe—’

‘Look here, do wait,’ Troy shouted, and at once they were silent. ‘It’s gone,’ she said. ‘No harm’s been done. But there’s one thing I must tell you. Just before dinner I came in here. I was worrying about the red curtains. I thought they might touch the canvas where it’s still wet. It was all right then. If Panty’s been in bed and is known to have been there since ten to nine, she didn’t do it.’

Pauline instantly began to babble. ‘Thank you, thank you, Mrs Alleyn. You hear that, Papa. Send for Miss Able. I insist that Miss Able be sent for. My child shall be vindicated.’

‘I’ll go and ask Caroline,’ said Thomas unexpectedly. ‘One doesn’t send for Caroline, you know. I’ll go and ask.’

He went out. The Ancreds were silent. Suddenly Millamant remarked: ‘I thought perhaps it was just the modern style. What do they call it? Surrealism?’

‘Milly!’ screamed her son.

Jenetta Ancred said: ‘What particular symbolism, Milly, did you read into the introduction of a flying cow behaving like a rude seagull over Papa’s head?’

‘You never know,’ Millamant said, ‘in these days,’ and laughed uncertainly.

‘Papa,’ said Desdemona, who had been bending over him, ‘is dreadfully upset. Papa, dearest, may I suggest—’

‘I’m going to bed,’ said Sir Henry. ‘I am indeed upset. I am unwell. I am going to bed.’

They all rose. He checked them with a gesture. ‘I am going alone,’ he said, ‘to bed.’

Cedric ran to the door. Sir Henry, without a backward glance, walked down the aisle, a shadowy figure looking larger than life against the glowing stage, and passing magnificently from the theatre.

The Ancreds at once began to chatter. Troy felt that she couldn’t endure the inevitable revival of Panty’s former misdemeanours, Pauline’s indignant denials, Cedric’s giggles, Millamant’s stolid recital of the obvious. She was profoundly relieved when Thomas, slightly ruffled, returned with Caroline Able.

‘I’ve asked Caroline to come,’ he said, ‘because I thought you mightn’t exactly believe me. Panty’s been in the sick-bay with all the other ringworms. Dr Withers wanted them to be kept under observation because of the medicine he’s given them, so Caroline has been sitting there reading since half-past seven. So Panty, you see, didn’t do it.’

‘Certainly she didn’t do it,’ said Miss Able brightly. ‘How could she? It’s quite impossible.’

‘So you see,’ Thomas added mildly.

Troy stayed behind in the little theatre with Paul and Fenella. Paul switched on the working lights, and together they examined Troy’s painting gear, which had been stacked away behind the wings.