‘Exactly; and therein lies our advantage. I do not believe for one moment that Tiny Fullalove intended to murder me when he made that strange attempt to enter my Kensington house. I think he came to tell me that he was in possession of information that would incriminate Emming. After all, if Tiny could eliminate the Emmings he would (as Bill’s next of kin) be entitled to the whole of the inheritance.’

‘You say “eliminate the Emmings”. Surely it would be sufficient for his purpose if he could eliminate Mrs Emming?’

‘It would, but he dare not do it.’

‘Oh, I see. You mean that he would be suspected immediately if anything happened to the only other (apparent) claimant to the money?’

‘Exactly that – particularly as he already knows that I suspect him. His only chance now, as I see it, is to get rid of Emming, who alone knows the full intricacies of the web they have spun together, and then to frighten Mrs Emming into giving up her claim.’

‘Would that be difficult?’

‘No, I don’t think it would. She does not seem to be a woman of much education or character. I think that a combination of daring her to prove that she was married as long ago as 1922 …’

‘Really?’

‘Oh, yes. I saw that at once on the certificate of marriage she showed me. I realized then that she was what I had suspected her to be – a mere imposter. In fact, when I saw that she claimed to have been married at approximately the age of eight—!’

‘You interest me very much. Please do go on. And tell me. Since you saw the point of the date, would not the lawyers see it, too?’

‘Of course. That is what Tiny Fullalove depends on, I should think. As for Robert Emming, who cannot openly visit the cottage, I doubt whether he has so far set eyes on the certificate. Of course, the woman may lie about her age. If she claims to be fifty, and no birth certificate is called for, all may be well. But I could wish that we had another witness besides yourself to what I am saying. Would you mind very much if we had a member of your staff in?’

‘Not at all. In fact, Diana Bagthorpe has been listening behind the door of my inner sanctum all the time. It would put matters on a regular footing and promote mutual restoration of “face” were I to bring her in.’

The small, rotund, india-rubber Physical Training lecturer, upon this, was immediately installed in the extra armchair, and she delighted Mrs Bradley by recapitulating succinctly and without error the conversation which had already been held in her hearing.

‘And I suppose you’ve never thought that Ed Brown, Farmer Daventry’s carter, might have had something to do with it, have you?’ she enquired.