“I don’t need one anyway, and I don’t want a private conversation with that.” Chingford jerked his head at Kim. “I found a body, that’s all, and I don’t see what the fuss is about. Listen.” He spoke with heavy stresses, as though to an idiot child. “I was having a nap in the reading room after dinner. Woke up, thought I’d look for a game. Went next door to the billiard room, went in, there’s a fellow lounging over the table. What ho, I said, you can’t sleep there. Bugger didn’t say a thing. Gave him a shake on the shoulder and realised there was something up.”

“You were close enough to touch before you realised there was something wrong?” Will asked incredulously.

Chingford gave him a pop-eyed stare. “Who’s this bloody rustic? And what the devil is going on here, with strangers wandering round the Club?”

“You were in the reading room, which is next to the billiard room, and you awoke unexpectedly from your nap,” Kim said. “Might that have been because you heard a noise from next door?”

“Mr. Secretan!” Rennick protested, even as Lord Chingford said, “What are you talking about? I don’t know why I woke up. I did, that’s all, and I went in and saw the body. Had a look, saw it was that swine Fairfax. Can’t say I’m surprised someone stabbed him. Fact, I’d like to shake the hand of the man who did it. Bloody mess, though. Damned thoughtless. Can’t treat a good table like that. Ruins the baize.”

“Terrible,” Kim said. “Getting back to the murdered man—”

“He had a knife sticking out of his head. Or a screwdriver or some such. I gave it a tug but it was stuck.”

Kim’s lips moved soundlessly. “You gave it—?”

“A tug. Are you deaf?”

“So we’re going to find your fingerprints on the murder weapon, Lord Chingford,” Rennick said. “Thank you. That’s very enlightening.”

Mitra massaged the bridge of his nose with a thumb and forefinger. Kim said, “Chingford, in the name of God, stop talking. Do not speak again until you have a lawyer by your side. I’ll call Stratton—”

“You stop bloody talking!” Chingford swelled like a turkey, neck reddening. “Who the hell do you think you are, waltzing in here? You were drummed out of this club for a good reason, you little toad, so get out and take your bloody stableboy with you! This is a place for gentlemen!”