Roger corroborated her statement and then pleaded to be allowed to go home. He left the room without saying goodnight to Rose or offering to return Harry’s cloak.

Lady Polly was standing by the drawing room window. Her husband was sleeping in an armchair behind her. ‘What can be keeping her?’ fretted Lady Polly. ‘It’s nearly dawn.’

A gentle snore was the only reply she got.

And then a car stopped outside. To her alarm, Lady Polly saw Harry helping Rose out.

‘Wake up!’ she screeched at her husband. ‘She’s arrived! She’s with that terrible Cathcart. Oh, what went wrong? Roger was supposed to propose to her.’

Rose had not taken a house key with her. Lady Polly ran down the stairs as she heard the loud sound of the door knocker. She flung open the door and howled, ‘What is the meaning of this?’

‘We will tell you all,’ said Rose. ‘Something terrible happened.’

In the drawing room, where her father was now awake, Rose told them about the happenings of the evening.

‘This is all your fault,’ said the earl, glaring at Harry.

‘How can it be?’ asked Rose. ‘He saved my life. Roger was no help. He would have run away if she had let him. All he did was wet himself.’

‘You must not say such things,’ exclaimed Lady Polly. ‘Captain Cathcart has led you into danger.’

‘It all started when I went to see Dolores and found her dead,’ said Rose. ‘If I had not been so stupid as to go and see her, then I would never have been involved or in danger. You must thank Captain Cathcart for saving my life and then let me go to bed. I am weary.’

‘I suppose thanks are in order,’ said the earl. ‘Go off with you, Rose. We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.’

‘I must go to Scotland Yard tomorrow,’ said Rose, ‘and I would like Captain Cathcart to escort me.’

‘Oh, very well,’ said Lady Polly.

Rose left the room and Harry watched her go with sad eyes. Bernie had given him a very detailed report of that outing to Richmond. Harry guessed that Rose had enjoyed such easy company, such fashionable company, and thought she could please her parents by marrying such an unexceptional young man.

‘I had better leave as well. I will call for your daughter just before noon. She is very tired.’

When he had left, the earl grumbled, ‘I’m afraid we’re stuck with him. But did you see his evening coat? Great shiny mark of the iron on the back of it. No gentleman should go out of the house like that.’

Lady Polly said in a weary voice, ‘If he had been a gentleman like Roger, then our daughter might be dead. We’ll need to let him marry her.’

* * *

Harry appeared early in the office the next morning. After telling Bernie the events of the previous night, he said, ‘I’ve got a couple of small cases for you, but before that, I would like you to go to the hospital and make sure Mrs Becket is all right. I have asked Mr Becket to spend the day with my new servants and instruct them in their duties.’