‘We need to interview your whole party.’

‘Then follow me,’ said the duchess and stalked ahead, trailing scarves and stoles.

They arranged themselves in the duchess’s private drawing room. Lemonier began. ‘You visited a certain Madame de Peurey two days ago, did you not?’

‘We saw the creature, yes,’ said the duchess.

Harry interposed. ‘What’s this all about?’

‘Madame de Peurey was found yesterday in her garden by her maid. Her throat had been cut.’

‘Good heavens! Fetch me brandy,’ said the duchess. She rounded on Rose. ‘I should never have become involved in your detective exploits. Now look at the mess!’

Harry told Lemonier the reason for their visit, ending up by saying that they had all been in Saint Malo the day before. Lemonier noted down the hotel they had been staying at and then told them he would be grateful if they would remain in Paris.

‘But I’m tired of all this,’ raged the duchess. ‘I want to go home!’

‘Did you see any suspicious persons while you were visiting?’ asked Lemonier.

‘No,’ said Harry. ‘Did her servants not see something?’

‘They were going about their duties. Madame de Peurey liked to have a siesta in the garden in the afternoons if the weather was fine. The garden can be easily accessed from the road.’

‘There was a man on a bicycle,’ said Daisy suddenly.

‘You never said anything,’ said Rose. ‘What man?’

‘It didn’t seem important at the time,’ said Daisy. ‘I looked back and there was this man cycling behind us. He was pedalling furiously and I thought he might be trying to race the motor.’

‘Description?’ asked Lemonier.

‘I can’t say. He had a cap down over his eyes and he was wearing goggles.’

‘Height?’

‘Medium, and he was wearing a grey tweed jacket and knickerbockers.’

‘Dolores Duval left everything to Madame de Peurey,’ said Harry. ‘Perhaps, Mr Lemonier, you could ask the French lawyer who now inherits.’

Lemonier made a note.

‘There is something else,’ said Harry. He told Lemonier about Dolores being originally called Betty and how she had worked on the farm.

‘We will interview her lovers,’ said Lemonier. ‘Fortunately we know who they are. I shall return tomorrow. I may have more questions for you.’

When he and his detectives had left, the duchess said angrily, ‘Go away, the lot of you. I’m tired.’

Outside her drawing room, Harry said to Rose, ‘I am going to telephone Kerridge.’

‘This is awful,’ said Rose. Her lip trembled and with a sudden impulse he folded her in his arms. ‘There now,’ he said gently. ‘I will look after you. Go to your rooms and I will join you shortly.’

Rose smiled at him tremulously. He pressed her hand and hurried off, leaving Rose looking after him, torn between an odd sort of elation and fear.

But ten minutes later, Becket arrived to say that the captain had been called to police headquarters to discuss the case further.

‘Are you going with him?’ asked Daisy.