‘I saw Mr Masters. The first anybody knew was the head carried on by Mr Sears. Mr Masters said that was absolutely all and he’s coming to see you as soon as he can. While we were talking a very distinguished-looking gent came up who said he was the Yard. And that’s all I know,’ said Nanny. ‘Except that Mr Masters said I could give them your telephone number and after a word with Mr Masters the gentleman said I could take you home. So we’ll go home, love, won’t we?’

‘Yes. What about you, Nina? You could ask to go and I could take you.’

‘I said I’d go with Bruce. I’m on his way and he’ll drop me. I’ve finished my drink, thank you all the same, dear Maggie, and I feel better.’

‘Come on, then. So do I. I think,’ said Maggie. ‘Lock up, Nanny. We’ll go home. They want our keys, don’t they?’

They left their key with Mr Fox. Masters was in deep conference with Alleyn but he saw Maggie and hurried towards her.

‘Miss Mannering, I am so sorry. I was coming. Did Nanny explain? Is your car here? This is appalling, isn’t it?’

He went out with them. Their car was waiting and there was still a small crowd in the alleyway. Maggie turned up her collar but was recognized.

‘It’s Margaret Mannering,’ shouted a man. ‘What’s happened? What was the accident? Hi!’

‘I don’t know,’ she said. Nanny scrambled in beside her and the driver sounded his horn.

The car began to back down the alleyway. Greedy faces at the windows. Impudent faces. Curious, grinning faces. A prolonged hooting and they were in Wharfingers Lane and picking up speed.

‘Horrible people,’ she said. ‘And I thought I loved them.’

She began, helplessly, to cry.

Gaston Sears walked up the path to his front door and let himself in. He was, by habit, a night owl and a lonely bird, too. Would it have been pleasant to have been welcomed home by a tender little woman who would ask him how the day, or rather, the night had gone? And would it have been a natural and admirable thing to have told her? He went into his workroom and switched on the light. The armed Japanese warrior, grimacing savagely, leapt up, menacing him, but he was not alarmed. He found, as he expected, the supper tray left by his Chinese housekeeper. Crab salad and a bottle of a good white wine.

He switched on his heater and sat down to it.