Poole was looking with a sort of incredulous astonishment at Darcey. ‘I think he should,’ he said slowly.

‘And you, Mr Darcey?’ asked Alleyn.

‘All right, Parry,’ said J.G., ‘go on.’

‘There’s not much more to be said and anyway I don’t suppose it matters. It was before they’d called the third act. Helena and Adam and Martyn had gone out. They begin the act, I come on a bit later and Ben after me and J.G. later still. I wanted to see how the show was going and I was on my way in the passage when Ben came out of his room and went into the greenroom next door. The act was called soon after that.’

‘Did you speak to him?’ Alleyn asked.

‘I did not,’ said Parry with some emphasis. ‘I merely went out to the stage and joined Jacko and the two dressers and the call-boy who were watching from the prompt side, and Clem.’

‘That’s right,’ Clem said. ‘I remember telling you all to keep away from the bunches. The boy called J.G. and Ben about five minutes later.’

‘Were you still in the greenroom when you were called, Mr Darcey?’

‘Yes.’

‘With Mr Bennington?’

‘He’d gone to his room.’

‘Not for the life of me,’ Helena said, wearily, ‘can I see why you had to be so mysterious, J.G.’

‘Perhaps,’ Alleyn said, ‘the reason is in your left trouser pocket, Mr Darcey.’

J.G. didn’t take his hand out of his pocket. He stood up and addressed himself directly to Alleyn.

‘May I speak to you privately?’ he asked.

‘Of course,’ Alleyn said. ‘Shall we go to the greenroom?’

In the greenroom and in the presence of Alleyn and of Fox who had joined them there, J.G. Darcey took his left hand out of his trouser pocket and extended it palm downwards for their inspection. It was a well-shaped and well-kept hand but the knuckles were grazed. A trace of blood had seeped out round the greasepaint and powder which had been daubed over the raw skin.

‘I suppose I’ve behaved very stupidly,’ he said. ‘But I hoped there would be no need to come out. It has no bearing whatever on his death.’

‘In that case,’ Alleyn said, ‘it will not be brought out. But you’ll do well to be frank.’

‘I dare say,’ said J.G. wryly.

‘There’s a bruise under the deceased’s jaw on the right side that could well have been caused by that straight left Mr Poole talked about. Now, we could ask you to hold your left fist to this bruise and see if there’s any correspondence. If you tell me you didn’t let drive at him we’ll ask you if you are willing to make this experiment.’

‘I assure you that rather than do any such thing I’d willingly admit that I hit him,’ J.G. said with a shudder.

‘And also why you hit him?’

‘Oh, yes, if I can. If I can,’ he repeated and pressed his hand to his eyes. ‘D’you mind if we sit down, Alleyn? I’m a bit tired.’