“What if I did? Why shouldn’t I?”

“And what did he say?”

“That he needed dealing with!” Chingford snarled. “Can’t put up with men like that. Cancer on the whole place.”

“Of course,” Kim said. “And cancers need cutting out, don’t they?”

“That’s what Knowle said. Fellow may be a commoner but at least he knows what’s owed to his betters.”

“Precisely. You shouldn’t have to put up with that nonsense. Nobody could blame a man for killing a blackmailer, not if they knew the whole story. There’s a limit to what one can tolerate with, isn’t there?”

“It’s a public service to rid the world of swine like that, that’s what he said. Didn’t realise he had so much sense.”

Kim was nodding. “And he said he’d look after you, make sure you didn’t suffer any consequences, that sort of thing? Told you to keep quiet about everything, and he would make it all go away, hush-hush. Am I right?”

“Hushing things up is his damned job! He said he’d sort it all out as long as I didn’t say anything. He said that would give him the best chance.”

“Of course. And what did you do then?”

“I had dinner and went for a bloody nap! How many times must I say it?”

“Yes,” Kim said slowly. “Do you know, I’m beginning to believe you did. You never were one to take a hint.”

The Marquess’s lips parted. Kim held up a hand, silencing him. “You had your nap. He had his chat with Quiller, and came out and walked past the reading room, and he saw you sleeping there, alone. And he went on into the billiard room next door, and there was Fairfax, alive, well, and not aware he was there. It was the perfect chance and he took it.”

Silence. Absolute silence, including from Lord Chingford.

“How did he have your handkerchief?” Kim went on. “Oh, but it was hot in his office, wasn’t it? A sweaty man might mop his brow. Did you drop it there? I expect he used it to hold the pick and catch any blood. He could have used it to incriminate you, but of course you did that all on your own when you wandered into the billiard room and took hold of the murder weapon. At that point, the handkerchief became unnecessary, perhaps overkill. He kept it, though, and waited for you to be arrested—”

“Quiller said they were together all along,” Will pointed out.

“Yes, he did,” Kim agreed. “I expect that’s why he had to die.”

“What is going on?” Lord Flitby demanded. “What are you saying, Arthur?”