Kitty said: ‘Somehow, I can’t sort of get it. It seems so – so unlikely.’

‘And you, Miss Cartarette?’

‘No,’ Rose said. ‘No. It’s unthinkable that anyone who knew him should want to hurt him.’

George Lacklander cleared his throat. Alleyn glanced at him. ‘I … ah …’ George said, ‘I … ah … personally believe it must have been some tramp or other. Trespassing or something. There’s nobody in the district, I mean. I mean, it’s quite incredible.’

‘I see,’ Alleyn said. ‘The next point is: do we know of anybody who was near Colonel Cartarette within, let us say, two hours of the time … I believe it was five minutes to nine … when you, Miss Kettle, found him?’

‘Exactly what,’ Lady Lacklander said, ‘do you mean by “near”?’

‘Let us say within sight or hearing of him.’

‘I was,’ said Lady Lacklander. ‘I made an appointment with him for eight which he kept twenty minutes early. Our meeting took place on the river bank opposite the willow grove where I understand he was found.’

Fox, unobtrusively stationed by the piano, had begun to take notes. Although her back was turned towards him, Lady Lacklander appeared to sense this activity. She shifted massively in her chair and looked at him without comment.

‘Come,’ Alleyn said, ‘that’s a starting point, at least. We’ll return to it later if we may. Does anyone know anything about Colonel Cartarette’s movements after this meeting which lasted … How long do you think, Lady Lacklander?’

‘About ten minutes. I remember looking at my watch after Maurice Cartarette left me. He recrossed Bottom Bridge, turned left and disappeared behind the willow grove. It was then nine minutes to eight. I packed up my things and left them to be collected and went home. I’d been sketching.’

‘About nine minutes to eight?’ Alleyn repeated.

Kitty said: ‘I didn’t see him, but … I must have been somewhere near him, I suppose, when I came back from the golf course. I got home at five past eight, I remember.’

‘The golf course?’

‘At Nunspardon,’ George Lacklander said. ‘Mrs Cartarette and I played a round of golf there this evening.’

‘Ah, yes. The course is above the stream, isn’t it, and on the opposite side of the valley from where we are now?’

‘Yes, but the greater part is over the crest of the hill.’

‘The second tee,’ Mark said, ‘overlooks the valley.’

‘I see. You came home by the Bottom Bridge, Mrs Cartarette?’

‘Yes. The River Path.’

‘On the far side wouldn’t you overlook the willow grove?’

Kitty pressed the palms of her hands against her head.