“Was that why you made signs to the nurse over her lady-ship’s shoulder?” asked Alleyn.

“Her ladyship is suffering from shock,” said Tinkerton in a burst of comparative candour. “I understand her ladyship. I knew she ought not to be upset by questions. I knew she ought to be in bed.”

It was the same thing when they came to the late Lord Wutherwood. He was, said Tinkerton, a very quiet gentleman. She wouldn’t describe him as mean nor would she describe him as generous. She couldn’t say whether he had understood his wife. By using the strictest economy of words Tinkerton managed to convey the impression that Alleyn was making an exhibition of himself and, if that was really her opinion, he was inclined to agree with her. He ran out of questions and sat looking at this infuriating woman. Suddenly he rose to his feet and, walking round the table, stood over her. Unlike most tall men Alleyn had the trick of swift movement. Tinkerton stiffened uneasily on the edge of her chair.

“You know, of course, that Lord Wutherwood was murdered?”

She actually turned rather pale.

“You know that?” Alleyn repeated.

“Everybody is saying so, sir.”

“Who is everybody? You have been with Lady Wutherwood ever since it happened. Does she say her husband was murdered?”

“The nurse said so.”

“Did the nurse tell you how he died?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What did she tell you? Describe it, exactly, if you please.”

Tinkerton moistened her lips. “The nurse said he was injured with a knife.”

“What sort of knife?”

“I mean a skewer.”

“How was it done?”

“The nurse said he had been stabbed through his eye.”

“Who did it?”

Tinkerton gaped at him.

“You heard me, I think,” said Alleyn. “Who murdered Lord Wutherwood?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything about it.”

“You know he must have been killed by some one in this flat.”

“The nurse said so.”

“It was so. Very well, then. You understand that if you can prove it was impossible for you to have stabbed Lord Wutherwood through his eye into his brain, you had better do so.”

“But I said—I said I was downstairs when he was still calling her ladyship. I said so.”

“How am I to know that is true?”

“Mr. Giggle will have heard. He knew I was behind him. Ask Mr. Giggle.”

“I have asked him. He doesn’t remember hearing Lord Wutherwood call a second time.”

“But he did call a second time, sir. I tell you I heard him, sir. Mr. Giggle must have been too far down to have heard. I was behind Mr. Giggle.”

“And you say you met nobody and saw nobody as you passed along the passage, through the hall, and across the landing?”

“Only Mr. Giggle, sir, and he didn’t notice me. I just caught sight of his back as he went down and Master Michael’s back as he went into the other flat. Before God, sir, it’s true.”

“You are voluble enough,” said Alleyn, “when it comes to your own safety.”