“Oh, my dear young ladies, I am sorry I was not here to take care of your needs. I was feeding the constable in the kitchen. He was loathe to leave his position at the bottom of the stairs, bless his heart, but I pointed out that you were hardly likely to make an escape when I had your cape with the motorcar keys in it, hanging in the hall cupboard.” She gave a satisfied little smile. “Is everything to your satisfaction? Is the tea hot enough? I could have a fresh pot made.”

Then I saw that she had taken in what Belinda was wearing. “Miss Jonquil had a dress just like that,” she said. “I believe it came from Harrods.”

“I believe it did,” Belinda answered. I stared down at my smoked haddock.

When she had left the room I glanced at Belinda. “You’re not going to tell her the truth?”

“It will be interesting to see if she dashes straight up to examine Jonquil’s wardrobe, won’t it?”

“Belinda, you really are naughty sometimes,” I said.

“I just felt I ought to do something,” she said. “After all, someone in this house has put me in a frightfully awful position. I’ve been questioned by a rude policeman. An even worse one is on his way. I had to strike a blow for independence.”

And she went to get herself another cup of tea.

WE FINISHED BREAKFAST and still there was no sign of Rose. I presumed the sleeping powder she had been given had truly knocked her out and I wondered whether it had been administered deliberately so that she could not be interviewed by the local inspector. We went down the hall to the morning room to read the newspapers that had been delivered. I thought it didn’t say much for their security that a newspaper boy had been allowed up to the house on his bicycle.

I saw that Belinda couldn’t settle down. She flicked through pages, then got up and walked around, peering out of windows, then perching on the edge of the sofa before wandering again.

“Nobody from London could possibly get here yet,” I said to her. “It’s at least a six-hour train ride and then he’d have to be driven from the nearest station.”

“I know. I just want it to be over. I do hope Uncle Francis hasn’t done a bunk. I wonder if anyone spotted his yacht moored near here yesterday. Do you think that Inspector Purdy will be back or will he wait for the man from Scotland Yard?”

“Belinda, I have no idea. Now will you sit down and try to relax.”

“Easy for you to say. It’s not your neck, is it?”