‘From there would you see Lady Lacklander coming up towards you? She began her ascent at ten to eight.’

‘I didn’t look down. I didn’t notice.’

‘Then you won’t have noticed Colonel Cartarette either. Lady Lacklander says he was fishing in the willow grove at the time and that the willow grove is visible from the River Path.’

‘I didn’t look down. I – ah – I merely saw Mrs Cartarette to the River Path and went on through the Home Spinney to Nunspardon. My mother arrived a few minutes later. And now,’ George said, ‘if you’ll excuse me, I really must drive my mama home. By the way, I do hope you’ll make use of us. I mean you may need a headquarters and so on. Anything one can do.’

‘How very kind,’ Alleyn rejoined. ‘Yes, I think we may let you go now. Afraid I shall have to ask you to stay in Swevenings for the time being.’ He saw George’s jaw drop.

‘Of course,’ he added, ‘if you have important business elsewhere it will be quite in order to come and tell me about it, and we’ll see what can be done. I shall be at the Boy and Donkey.’

‘Good God, my dear Alleyn

‘Damn’ nuisance I know,’ Alleyn said; ‘but there you are. If they will turn on homicide in your bottom meadow. Goodnight to you.’

He circumnavigated George and returned to the drawing-room where he found Rose, Mark and Kitty uneasily silent, Mr Phinn biting his fingers and Inspector Fox in brisk conversation with Nurse Kettle on the subject of learning French conversation by means of gramophone records. ‘I don’t,’ Mr Fox was saying, ‘make the headway I’d like to.’

‘I picked up more on a cycling tour in Brittany when I had to than I ever got out of my records.’

‘That’s what they all tell me, but in our line what chance do you get?’

‘You must get a holiday some time, for heaven’s sake.’

True,’ Fox said, sighing. ‘That’s a fact. You do. But somehow I’ve never got round to spending it anywhere but Birchington. Excuse me, Miss Kettle, here’s the Chief.’

Alleyn gave Fox a look that both of them understood very well and the latter rose blandly to his feet. Alleyn addressed himself to Kitty Cartarette.

‘If I may,’ he said, ‘I should like to have a very short talk with Miss Kettle. Is there perhaps another room we may use? I saw one, I think, as I came across the hall. A study perhaps.’

He had a feeling that Mrs Cartarette was not overanxious for him to use the study. She hesitated but Rose said: ‘Yes, of course. I’ll show you.’

Fox had gone to the french window and had made a majestical signal to the sergeant who now came into the drawing-room.