On it lay a gold case, very beautifully worked. It had a jewelled clasp and was smeared with slime.

‘His?’ Williams said.

‘– or somebody else’s? I wonder.’

They stared at it in silence. Alleyn was about to wrap it again when they were startled by a loud, shocking and long-drawn-out howl.

About fifty yards away, sitting in the middle of the lane in an extremely dishevelled condition, with a leash dangling from her collar, was a half-bred boxer bitch, howling lamentably.

‘Pixie,’ said Raikes.

II

They met with difficulty when they tried to catch Pixie. If addressed, she writhed subserviently, threshed her tail, and whined. If approached, she sprang aside, ran a short distance in a craven manner, sat down again and began alternately to bark and howl.

The five men whistled, stalked, ran and cursed, all to no avail. ‘She’ll rouse the whole bloody village at this rate,’ Superintendent Williams lamented and indeed several persons had collected beyond the cars at the road barrier.

Alleyn and Dr Elekton tried a scissors movement, Raikes and Williams an ill-conceived form of indirect strategy. Fox made himself hot and cross in a laughable attempt to jump upon Pixie’s lead and all had come to nothing before they were aware of the presence of a small, exceedingly pale man in an alpaca jacket on the far side of Mr Period’s gate. It was Alfred Belt.

How long he had been there it was impossible to say. He was standing quite still with his well-kept hands on the top of the gate and his gaze directed respectfully at Alleyn.

‘If you will allow me, sir,’ he said. ‘I think I may be able to secure the dog.’

‘For God’s sake do,’ Alleyn rejoined.

Alfred whistled. Pixie with a travesty of canine archness cocked her head on one side. ‘Here, girl,’ Alfred said disgustedly. ‘Meat.’ She loped round the top end of the drain and ran along the fence towards him. ‘You bitch,’ he said dispassionately as she fawned upon him.

Superintendent Williams, red with his exertions, formally introduced Alfred across the drain. Alfred said: ‘Good morning, sir. Mr Period has asked me to present his compliments and to say that if there is anything you require he hopes you will call upon him.’

‘Thank you,’ Alleyn rejoined. ‘I was going to. In about five minutes. Will you tell him?’

‘Certainly, sir,’ Alfred said and withdrew.

Alleyn said to Williams: ‘When the flash and dabs lot turn up, ask them to cover the whole job, will you, Bob? Everything. I’ll be in the house if I’m wanted. You know the story and can handle this end of it better than I. I’d be glad if you’d stay in.’

It was by virtue of such gestures as this that Alleyn maintained what are known as ‘good relations’ with the county forces. Williams said: ‘Be pleased to,’ and filled out his jacket.

Dr Elekton said: ‘What about the body?’