‘When I heard Macbeth say “Thou art the best of the cut-throats.” The curtains were shut and the scene between Macbeth and Gaston, the murderer, was played in front of them. The head and cloak were stuffy and awkward and I always delay putting them on and getting down there. They are made in one and it takes only seconds to put them on. Angus and Caithness popped the whole thing over my head. I gathered up the cloak round my knees and crouched down.’

‘And the ghost double? Toby?’

A youth held up his hand. ‘I put my head and cloak on in the dressing room,’ he said, ‘and I got under the table as soon as it was there. The table has no upstage side and there was lots of room, really. I waited at the rear until Bruce got under and crawled forward.’

‘When was the dish put on the table?’

Props said: ‘It’s stuck down. All the props not used are stuck down, aren’t they? I put the lid on it after I got it ready, like.’

‘Before the rehearsal started?’

‘That’s right. And if there’s anybody thinks I done it with the head, I never. And if there’s any doubts about that I appeal to my Union.’

‘There are no doubts about it,’ said Peregrine hurriedly. ‘Where was the head? Where are all the heads? Together?’

‘In the walking gents’ dressing room. All together. Waiting for the dress rehearsal nex’ week.’

‘Is the room unlocked?’

‘Yes. And if you arst ‘oo ‘as the key, I ‘as it. The young gents arst me to unlock it and I unlocked it, din’ I?’

‘Yes. Thank you.’

‘I got me rights like everybody else.’

‘Of course you have.’

Peregrine waited for a moment. He looked at the familiar faces of his actors and thought: This is ridiculous. He cleared his throat. ‘I now ask,’ he said, ‘which of you was responsible for this trick.’

Nobody answered.

‘Very well,’ Peregrine said. ‘I would beg you not to discuss this affair among yourselves but,’ he added acidly, ‘I might as well beg you not to talk. One point I do put to you. If you think of linking these silly pranks with the Macbeth superstitions you will be doing precisely what the perpetrator wants. My guess is that he or she is an ardent believer. So far no ominous sights have occurred. So he or she has planted some. It’s as silly and as simple as that. Any comments?’

‘One asks oneself,’ announced Gaston, ‘when the rumours began and whether, in fact, they go back to some pre-Christian Winter Solstice ritual. The play being of an extremely sanguinary nature – ‘

‘Yes, Gaston. Later, dear man.’

Gaston rumbled on.

Sir Dougal said: ‘Oh, for pity’s sake will somebody tell him to forget his claddy-mor and to shut his silly old trap.’