‘Yeomans and Hale would be delighted if we were shot dead,’ said Peter. ‘They’d have a clear field for once. And there’s also Sir Roger’s son. He’d shed no tears over our demise.’

‘I think he’d applaud.’

‘And yet we’re trying to help him and his family.’

‘Edmund Mellanby sees us as obstacles. We’re in the way.’

Peter was adamant. ‘And we mean to stay there.’

‘Well, we’re not moving for his benefit,’ said Paul, stoutly.

‘I keep thinking of the way that his father treated Seth Hooper. Sir Roger accepted him as a friend – though the social chasm between them remained, of course. The elder son, by contrast, dismisses Hooper and his fellow members of the Hampden Club as if they’re something he picked up on his boot by inadvertently treading in it.’

‘Why is he so different from his father?’

‘He won’t let us close enough to ask him,’ said Peter. ‘However, I must be on my way,’ he went on, rising. ‘Charlotte will wonder where I am.’

‘Thank you for coming.’

‘I’m glad that I did. If I hadn’t, I’d have missed what Captain Golightly had to say. I found it intriguing.’ He moved towards the door. ‘Give my love to Hannah.’

‘And pass on mine to Charlotte,’ said Paul, following him into the hall. ‘Let’s meet at the shooting gallery early tomorrow and decide what our next steps are.’

‘I’ll be there,’ said Peter before turning round. ‘You know, I keep thinking about the letter “D” on those bullets.’

‘What do you think it stands for?’

‘The obvious thing is that it’s the initial letter of the killer’s name.’

‘I fancy that it’s a case of “D” for Destiny.’

‘There might be a far simpler explanation, Paul.’

‘What does it stand for, then?’

‘Death.’

While the two brothers had been downstairs, Hannah had been in the guest bedroom with Dorothea. The latter was delighted to have her company but, curiously, she didn’t want to talk about her romance. In fact, there was no mention at all of Orsino Price. All that Dorothea was interested in was some advice about her career in the theatre. Hannah was more than ready to wax lyrical about her experience in the profession and to offer suggestions.

‘I think that you should invest in some singing lessons,’ she said.

‘But you said that I had a sweet voice.’

‘You do, Dorothea, but it lacks variation. A good teacher would help you to acquire that and to improve your projection into the bargain. It’s a problem I had at your age and I had the sense to seek instruction.’

‘Singing teachers tend to be expensive, Miss Granville.’

‘I’ll be happy to pay for the first half-dozen lessons.’

Dorothea was elated. ‘You’d really do that for me?’

‘Well, I don’t see anyone else in this bedroom,’ said Hannah, laughing.