Rose gave a little cry, wrenched herself free and pushed past her into the room. Then she let out a horrible scream. She turned on Belinda. “You killed Tony. How could you do such an awful thing? You’re a monster. A vile monster. I’ll never forgive you. I hope you hang.”

“But I didn’t do it.” Belinda was choking back tears. “I swear I didn’t. I came back from my bath and he was lying there.”

“Then why is there blood on your hands?” Rose shrieked the words. “And you’re still holding the knife, for God’s sake.”

“I didn’t realize what it was,” Belinda said. “I came into my room and it was dark and I kicked something so I bent to pick it up and it was this knife.” She seemed to realize she was still holding it and put it down hastily onto a side table. “And it was all sticky with blood. I screamed and Georgie came.”

I was able to observe now that it was not a knife as much as one of the curved oriental daggers that had been displayed in one of the rooms downstairs.

“Then if you didn’t kill him, who did?” Rose demanded. “Call the police, Mrs. Mannering. If she really didn’t kill him, then there is a murderer loose in this house.”

“May I suggest that you all come out of this room,” Mrs. Mannering said calmly. “It is a crime scene now. Nobody is to touch anything. I will call the police. And I will rouse the staff to search the house and grounds.”

I put an arm around Belinda. “You’d better come and wash your hands in my bedroom,” I said.

“She should leave her hands as evidence,” Rose said angrily.

“We all know what we saw, Mrs. Summers,” Mrs. Mannering replied calmly. “We all saw the blood on her hands and besides, her fingerprints will be on the knife.”

“As well as the killer’s,” I added. “Don’t worry, Belinda. It’s going to be all right. They’ll find out who is the real murderer.”

“Come with me, Mrs. Summers,” Mrs. Mannering said. “You’ve had a terrible shock. Let me put you to bed and get you a glass of brandy while we wait for the police to come.” Then she turned to me. “I think you should stay with Miss Warburton-Stoke, my lady. She should not be left alone.”