‘Awright. Fair enough.’ He addressed himself to Martyn. ‘And what was mentioned between you and me in a friendly manner needn’t be mentioned no more. Let bygones be bygones.’ He returned to Alleyn. ‘She’s as innercent as a babe. Arst ‘is nibs.’

Alleyn waited for a moment and then said: ‘Thank you.’ Gibson succeeded in removing Fred Badger but not before he had directed at Martyn that peculiar clicking sound of approval which is accompanied by a significant jerk of the head.

When he had gone Alleyn said: ‘I think I’d better ask you to interpret. What was his exquisite meaning?’

Martyn felt a dryness in her mouth. ‘I think,’ she said, ‘he’s afraid he’ll get into trouble for letting me sleep in here that night and I think he’s afraid I’ll get into trouble if I tell you that he showed me how the murder in the Jupiter case was accomplished.’

‘That seems a little far-fetched.’

Martyn said rapidly: ‘I suppose it’s idiotic of me to say this but I’d rather say it. Mr Bennington very naturally resented my luck in this theatre. He tackled me about it and he was pretty truculent. I expect the stage-hands have gossiped to Badger and he thinks you might—might—’

‘Smell a motive?’

‘Yes,’ said Martyn.

‘Did Bennington threaten you?’

‘I don’t remember exactly what he said. His manner was threatening. He frightened me.’

‘Where did this happen?’

‘Off-stage, during the first dress-rehearsal.’

‘Was anyone present when he tackled you?’

The image of Poole rose in Martyn’s memory. She saw him take Bennington by the arm and twist him away from her.

‘There were people about,’ she said. ‘They were changing the set. I should think it very likely—I mean it was a very public sort of encounter.’

He looked thoughtfully at her and she wondered if she had changed colour. ‘This,’ he said, ‘was before it was decided you were to play the part?’

‘Oh, yes. That was only decided half an hour before the show went on.’

‘So it was. Did he do anything about this decision? Go for you, again?’

‘He didn’t come near me until I’d finished. And knowing how much he must mind, I was grateful for that.’

Alleyn said: ‘You’ve been very sensible to tell me this, Miss Tarne.’

Martyn swallowed hard. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, ‘that I would have told you if it hadn’t been for Fred Badger.’

‘Ah, well,’ Alleyn said, ‘one mustn’t expect too much. How about that statement, Mike?’

‘Here we are, sir. I hope you can read my writing, Miss Tarne.’

When she took the paper, Martyn found her hands were not steady. Alleyn moved away to the table with his subordinate. She sat down again and read the large schoolboyish writing. It was a short and accurate résumé of the incident of the letter from Prague.