‘That’s right. And whoever he was, Mr Dunwoody took him straight to his office. It was like he was embarrassed that this guy had visited.’

‘I see. How very interesting. Then what happened?’

‘Well, I’m not sure. They were in Mr Dunwoody’s office. But it wasn’t long before I heard raised voices. I didn’t know what to do. You see, it’s my job to make coffees for Mr Dunwoody if he ever has any guests, and I was in such a panic. I didn’t know if I should make them coffee or not.’

‘Did you hear what they were arguing about?’

‘Not while I was outside the office, but in the end I got up my courage, knocked on the door and asked if they’d like a coffee. It was like thunder in there. The tall man, the silver-haired man, he didn’t want anything, and he was kind of rude about it. He dismissed me with a wave of his hand.’

Antonia lapsed into thoughtful silence.

‘How interesting,’ Judith said. ‘But you say you didn’t hear what they said while you were outside?’

Antonia wasn’t able to follow the line of Judith’s reasoning.

‘What’s that?’

‘You said you didn’t hear what was said while you were outside. That suggests to me that maybe there was something you heard while you were inside.’

‘Oh yes, of course. Sorry. Anyway, after the silver-haired gentleman waved me off, I left, but as I was closing the door, I heard Mr Dunwoody say to him, “I could go to the police right now.”’

‘And what did the silver-haired man have to say about that?’

‘I don’t know. I left before I could hear his reply.’

‘I see. But Mr Dunwoody definitely said that he could “go to the police right now”?’

‘He did.’

‘And you’ve really no idea what he was referring to?’

‘None at all. I’m so sorry.’

‘You didn’t perhaps raise the matter with Mr Dunwoody later on?’

‘No way. But he did, now you mention it. We were locking up for the night and Mr Dunwoody apologised that I’d had to witness the argument.’

‘What did you say to that?’

‘Well, I could see he was really uncomfortable about it all, so I just told him it was fine, I’d not really seen or heard anything. And then he said something weird. He said, “Desperation drives people to do stupid things.”’

‘What on earth was he referring to?’

‘No idea. But it’s what he said.’

Judith felt a buzz of excitement. Who was this silver-haired man who was in dispute with Stefan? Remembering how Stefan had got into an argument with Elliot Howard at the Henley Regatta, she had an idea.

‘Is your computer connected to the internet?’ she asked.

Antonia nodded.

‘Then can you do a quick search for me?’

‘Of course. What do you want to know?’