“Darling, if your brother didn’t drown de Mauxville, then somebody else did. We need to find out who.”

“Won’t the police be doing that?”

“Policemen are notoriously dense. That inspector has probably leaped to the conclusion that your brother is guilty and thus will look no further.”

“But that’s awful.”

“So it will be up to you, Georgie.”

“But what can I do?”

Belinda shrugged. “Start by asking people around the square. Someone might have noticed de Mauxville arriving, possibly with a stranger. Or a stranger trying to get into your house.”

“That’s true.”

“And we could ring up Claridge’s and ask them who left messages for de Mauxville or visited him.”

“They are not likely to tell me that,” I said.

“Pretend to be a relative from France. Distraught. Desperate to find him. Family crisis, you know. Use your feminine wiles.”

“I suppose so,” I said hesitantly.

“Do it now. Go on.” She pointed to the telephone. “With any luck the police haven’t grilled everybody yet.”

“All right.” I got up and went over to the instrument, picking it up gingerly.

“ ’Allo,” I said in pseudo-French when I was connected to the Claridge’s operator. “Zis is Mademoiselle de Mauxville. I believe zat my bruzzer stay wiz you, n’est-ce pas? De Mauxville?”

“Yes, that’s right. Monsieur de Mauxville has been staying with us.”

“Would you please put me through to him?” I asked, the French accent already slipping.

“I’m afraid that—that is, he was not in his room last night, Mademoiselle de Mauxville.”

“Ooh la la. Terrible. Out on zee town again, I fear. Could you tell me, please, has he had any messages?” (I made it rhyme with “massages.”) “Did somebody give ’im zee message from me yesterday? I am desperate to contact ’im and he doesn’t call me.”

“A message was delivered to his room yesterday, but I couldn’t say who it was from. I show no message from you, mademoiselle.”

“’Ow is zis possible?” I demanded. “I telephone from Paris in zee morning.”

“Maybe your message was passed along verbally,” the switchboard girl suggested.

“And has he had any visitors? I need to know if my cousin has encountered him on a matter of family business.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know that. You’d have to ask at reception and I don’t think they’d be at liberty to tell you. Now, if you’d give me your address and telephone number, mademoiselle, someone will probably want to contact you about your brother in the near future.”

“My address?” My brain raced. “I am unfortunately touring wiz friends at zee moment. I will telephone you again tomorrow and in the meantime, please tell my bruzzer zat I must speak wiz him.”