Beddoes whistled, with slight tremolo effect. “He’ll need a good counsel.”

“He’ll get it.”

The door opened, to readmit the head and uniformed shoulder.

“Your call to London, sir. Will you take it in here?”

“Yes,” said Brett. “Thank you, put it through.”

“Ah,” said Beddoes, sliding off the table, “this is where I get a chance to take a look at the crackling!” He stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette, and loped, grinning, out of the door.

Brett picked up the telephone. “Hullo!” he said. “Christina?”

“Yes, darling, what is it?”

So casual, so unconcerned! Of course, it wasn’t at all late, as he was thinking. She wouldn’t have been expecting him.

“Nothing really,” he said. “I’m in Canterbury.”

“Good heavens! Do you remember that awful hot day we were there? Red-faced girls all sweat and haversacks combing their hair in the cathedral. Oh darling, won’t you be able to come home for tomorrow?”

“Yes, oh yes, tonight. What’s special about tomorrow?”

“Brett! Christmas.”

“Oh, hell and damnation!”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, nothing,” he said hastily, “I was thinking of something else.” He was thinking of the cameo. “Did you enjoy the cantata? I didn’t want to wake you this morning.”

“Oh, it wasn’t bad, except that they had a moo-cow instead of an alto, and of course he had no idea—”

“Chris,” he interrupted, “you know that saying, He that toucheth pitch—”

“Oh, there was nothing wrong with her pitch, it was just those awful lowing scoops, and the way she bludgeoned the phrases.”

Brett sighed. “Listen Christina. Does it ever dismay you to think that you’re married to a detective, all scum and suspicion?”

“What? Brett—are you all right?”

“Of course I am,” he said impatiently, “how else could I be talking to you? I only asked a simple question. Isn’t there a simple answer?”

“Yes. I mean, yes, there is. Oh darling, the kettle is boiling over, I can hear it. I must go. You come home as soon as you can—you’ll get your answer.”

“But Christina—”

“Zu neuen Thaten, theurer Helde! Goodbye!”

Hearing a decisive click at the other end, Brett put down the telephone. He stood still for a minute or so, pleasantly anticipating the promised answer, not for one second entertaining the idea that it might be given verbally. Then he went out of the room; meeting the Superintendent a few yards along the corridor outside.