‘Why was I not told sooner?’

‘We decided that perhaps you did not want to be disturbed.’

Harry said, ‘I’ve got to go. She could be in danger.’

He hailed one of the new motor cabs and told the cabbie to get to Notre Dame as quickly as possible. Harry fretted as the cab sped over the cobbles of the Place de la Concorde, past the obelisk and down towards the Seine.

When they drew up outside Notre Dame, he hurriedly paid the cabbie and was about to rush into the cathedral when he saw an excited crowd of people farther along looking over the bridge.

He sprinted along and looked down. A figure was struggling in the water. The current was strong. He sprinted towards the steps leading down to the lower quay. He pushed his way through a gesticulating pointing crowd, stripped off his coat and hat and dived in. He didn’t know whether it was Rose or not. Harry lunged out and grasped an armful of clothing.

‘Rose!’ he spluttered, recognizing her. ‘Hang on.’

The great bell of Notre Dame began to ring, booming in their ears, reverberating across the swirling black water.

He struck out for the steps, fighting against the current. Arms reached down to help them and they were dragged up onto the quay. The watchers cheered him as he clutched a dripping-wet and shivering Rose to him.

‘Let’s get out of here,’ he said. Someone handed him his coat and hat and he draped his coat around Rose.

A policeman came up and said, ‘You must come with me.’

‘Nonsense,’ said Harry angrily. ‘The lady will get pneumonia if we do not get her back to her hotel.’

‘We always arrest attempted suicides.’

‘I was not attempting suicide,’ howled Rose. ‘Someone pushed me.’

‘You left a letter,’ said the policeman accusingly. ‘It is in English, but as you can hear, my English is very good.’

‘I have just come from Commissioner Lemonier,’ said Harry. ‘You will come with us to the Crillon and you may telephone him from there.’

Rose was lying in bed. Beside the bed sat a remorseful Daisy. Harry had been furious with her for having let Rose go out alone.

Daisy looked up as Harry and Lemonier entered the room. ‘How are you?’ Harry asked Rose.

‘Cold and hot by turns. I am so sorry. I should never have gone out alone. I thought the murderer would have fled somewhere out to the country. There was something about a letter. What letter?’

‘This was found on the quay just where you were pushed in. It was weighted down with a stone. I’ll read it to you. It says, “I killed Dolores Duval and Madame de Peurey. I do not want to live any more. Rose Summer.”’

‘I thought I was going to die,’ said Rose through white lips. ‘The current was so strong and I felt myself getting weaker and weaker. I called for help but no one seemed to hear me.’