‘I’ll try to remember exactly what it was,’ Martyn said carefully. ‘I was in the dressing-room passage on my way to my—to Miss Gainsford’s room and he caught me up. He spoke very disjointedly and strangely, not finishing his sentences. But one thing he said—I think it was the last—I do remember quite distinctly because it puzzled me very much. He said: “I just wanted to tell you that you needn’t suppose what I’m going to do—” and then he stopped as if he was confused and added, I think: “you needn’t suppose—” and broke off again. And then Jacko—Mr Doré—came and told me to go into the dressing-room to have my make-up attended to and, I think, said something to Mr Bennington about his.’

‘I told him he was shining with sweat,’ said Jacko. ‘And he went into his room.’

‘Alone?’ Alleyn asked.

‘I just looked in to make sure he had heard me. I told him again he needed powder and then went at once to this infant.’

‘Miss Tarne, can you remember anything else Mr Bennington said?’

‘Not really. I’m afraid I was rather in a haze myself just then.’

‘The great adventure?’

‘Yes,’ said Martyn gratefully. ‘I’ve an idea he said something about my performance. Perhaps I should explain that I knew he must be very disappointed and upset about my going on instead of Miss Gainsford but his manner was not unfriendly and I have the impression that he meant to say he didn’t bear for me, personally, any kind of resentment. But that’s putting it too definitely. I’m not at all sure what he said, except for that one sentence. Of that I’m quite positive.’

‘Good,’ Alleyn said. ‘Thank you. Did you hear this remark, Mr Doré?’

Jacko said promptly: ‘But certainly. I was already in the passage and he spoke loudly as I came up.’

‘Did you form any opinion as to what he meant?’

‘I was busy and very pleased with this infant and I did not concern myself. If I thought at all it was to wonder if he was going to make a scene because the niece had not played. He had a talent for scenes. It appears to be a family trait. I thought perhaps he meant that this infant would not be included in some scene he planned to make or be scolded for her success.’

‘Did he seem to you to be upset?’

‘Oh, yes. Yes. Upset. Yes.’

‘Very much distressed, would you say?’

‘All his visage wanned?’ inquired a voice in the background. ‘Tears in his eyes. Distraction in’s aspect?’

Alleyn moved his position until he could look past Gay and Darcey at the recumbent doctor. ‘Or even,’ he said, ‘his whole function suiting with forms to his conceit?’