‘Bob Masters sent him home. Straight away. He didn’t want him to see it. Gaston dropped the claidheamh-mor and head on the stage. The boy was waiting to go on for the curtain call. Bob told him there’d been a hitch and there wasn’t to be a call and to get into his own clothes quick and go home.’

‘Yes. William Smith, Fox. In case we want him. Has he got a telephone number?’

‘Yes,’ said Peregrine. We’ve got it. Shall I –?’

‘I don’t think we want it tonight. We’ll ask the King and Props to confirm that Gaston Sears stood with the boy offstage. And that Macduff came straight off. If this is so, it completely clears Macduff. And Gaston, of course.’

‘Yes.’

‘During the fight, Malcolm and Old Siward with Ross and Caithness assembled on the Prompt upper landing, out of sight, waiting for their final entrance. The rest of the forces waited on the OP side. The “dead” characters – the King, Banquo, Lady Macduff and her son were also waiting OP for the second curtain call. The witches were alone upstage.’

‘Yes.’

‘Therefore he must have been decapitated in the interval between his and Macduff’s exit, fighting, and Macduff and Gaston’s re-entry with his head.’

‘Yes,’ said Peregrine wearily. ‘And it’s three and a half minutes at the most.’

‘We’ll now summon the rest of the company and get them, if they can, to give each other alibis for that period.’

‘Shall I call them?’

‘In here, if you would. I don’t want them on stage just yet. Nor, I think, do they want it. Thank you, Jay. It’ll be a squash but never mind.’

Peregrine went out. Winter Morris, who had stood inside the door without speaking, came to Alleyn’s table and put a folded paper on it.

‘I think you should see this,’ he said. ‘Perry agrees.’

Alleyn opened it.

The tannoy boomed out: ‘Everyone in the greenroom, please. Company and staff call. Everyone in the greenroom.’

Alleyn read the typed message: ‘murderers sons in your co.’

‘When did you get it? And how?’ Winty told him.

‘Is it true?’

‘Yes,’ said Winty miserably.

‘Does anyone else know?’

‘Perry thinks Barrabell does. The Banquo.’

‘Spiteful character?’

‘Yes.’

‘It refers to the little Macduff boy, William Smith. I represented the police in the case,’ Alleyn said. ‘He was a little chap of six then but I recognized him. He’s got a very distinctive face. One of the victims was named Barrabell. Bank clerk. She was beheaded,’ said Alleyn. ‘Here come the actors.’

IV

By using a considered routine they managed to extract the information wanted in reasonable time.

The alibis of Gaston Sears, Props and Macduff were secured. Alleyn read the names out from his programme and each in turn was remembered as being offstage in the group of waiting actors. The King and Nina Gaythorne were whispering to Gaston. Her dress was caught up.