“Do sit down, won’t you?” Alleyn invited her. She sat down comfortably and didn’t fidget.

“You nursed Sir Derek, didn’t you?” he began.

“Yes.”

“How long was it from the time he was admitted until the operation?”

“Nearly an hour, I think. He came in soon after I went on duty at five o’clock. The operation was at a quarter to six.”

“Yes. Look here, Nurse Graham, will you tell me the whole story of that hour as though you were writing it down in detail?”

She looked gravely at him for a moment or two.

“I’ll try,” she said at last. Alleyn took out a notebook and with an uneasy glance at it she began: “Soon after I came on duty a message came up that he was on his way and I was to ‘special’ him. I met the stretcher, put him to bed, and prepared him for operation.”

“Did you give an injection of any sort?”

“No. The usual injection of morphia and atropine was not given. Sir John’s injection of hyoscine took its place.”

“I see. Well, nurse?”

“While that was being done Lady O’Callaghan and Sir Derek’s sister arrived, and when the preparation was over they went into his room. He was semi-conscious. Am I doing this properly?”

“Admirably. Please go on.”

“Well, let me think. I was in the room with them at first. Lady O’Callaghan was very good—quiet, and didn’t upset the patient. Miss O’Callaghan was rather distressed. They sat down by the bed. I went out to speak to Sir John. When I came back they were talking together. Sir Derek was lying with his eyes closed, but he opened them for a moment and groaned. I think he was conscious just then and he seemed very uncomfortable. Lady O’Callaghan came out and spoke for a minute to Sir John. Then we all returned and Sir John made an examination. The patient seemed much easier, but I thought that now he was quite unconscious, more deeply so than he had been since he came in. Sir John diagnosed ruptured appendix abscess and offered to get Mr. Somerset Black to operate immediately. Lady O’Callaghan begged him to do it himself and he finally said he would. I took Lady O’Callaghan and Miss O’Callaghan out.”

Nurse Graham paused and looked very earnestly at the inspector.

“Was there any further incident before they left the room?” Alleyn asked.

“You mean—? There was something else, but please, Inspector Alleyn, do not attach too much importance to it. The patient, I am sure, did not realise in the least what he said.”

“What did he say?”

“He opened his eyes and said ‘Don’t—don’t let—’ and then relapsed again.”

“Did you get any idea of what he was trying to say?”

“It might have been anything.”

“At what was he looking?”