Beddoes returned, looking rather dejected. “As far as Mrs. M. knows,” he said, “she never sent out a single letter and never received one.”

“It doesn’t matter. What I’m going to do now is to ring Runciman. You never met him, did you?”

Beddoes shook his head. “Left before I came. Strong on Slavonic Studies?”

“That’s right. He was at King’s with me. I want to ask him if the name Karukhin ever appeared in the course of his studies or duty.”

“I’ve asked Records, as far as the duty part’s concerned. And if they weren’t naturalised they’ll have had to report in the war, so the divi’s checking that. There may not be anyone still there who remembers or knows them, and it’ll take some time to unearth records.”

“Why not go straight to the Home Office? Ask whether these Karukhins are aliens or naturalised. They can look up both registers simultaneously, and whoever gets the right file wins. I’ll see to it. Now, in case some form of Press life puts in an appearance, you’ll have to let them know the old woman’s dead, unfortunately. Give them to understand it’s just an ordinary sudden death, and if they want to know why, in that case, we have a hand in it, let them think it’s the death that’s being queried, without any gloss of robbery. Do you think Mrs. Minelli’s told the neighbours much of the home life of the Karukhins? Or about the ikon and brooch?”

“I’ll ask her.”

“Do. And ask her if she hasn’t some friends or relations she could stay with for a while. If she hasn’t, tell her to say absolutely nothing to anyone but you or me, and to lock that ikon out of sight. Exert your charm, Beddoes. She might even let you take charge of the ikon till everything’s blown over, which would be perfect.”

“If it’s the Hampstead people, they’ll be watching the papers for even a tiny para. What will be their reaction to the news that Mrs. K’s dead? They haven’t caused anything like that before. Think they might get a shock and clear out double quick?”

“It probably won’t be news to them.”

“But if they came in the gas van at about ten-thirty, and she’s only been dead seven or eight hours—”

“She was in a death sleep when they came, perhaps. And Ivan may have run out to tell them. Anyway, we can’t keep it out of the papers if they do get hold of it, and I don’t think it will make any difference to the Hampstead people. Success is going to their heads, I dare say. You know—‘Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold.’ Carry on as you are doing. You can have the car that brought me here for sending things back to H.Q.—the cups, the book, anything that you may find. The car’s in the High Street. I’ll send it along. Oh, and the mort van will be coming, of course. When you’ve finished with the room for the time being, close it off. Then make a beginning with the neighbours. Anything at all about the Karukhins. There’s no pressing need for me to see Mrs. Minelli, since you have. It would be a mere formality.”