I shake my head. ‘I left Allan downstairs about three o’clock. He wanted another cigar and another cognac.’ I close my eyes, picturing it. It is the truth. ‘I kissed him goodnight and watched him head out into the garden. I couldn’t keep my eyes open.’

‘I see. How did he seem to you?’

‘A bit worse for wear but it had been his party.’ I play with my hands. ‘I wish I had stayed with him.’

‘From what we’ve gathered, he must have gone to the watchtower.’

I let a brief smile hover on my lips. ‘We often went there after a long evening. Normally we would sit together have a drink and do a post-mortem on the party.’ I frown. ‘Sorry, that’s a bad choice of words.

‘Are you certain that you didn’t go with him?’

‘Yes.’ My stomach clenches.

‘It’s just that there are a woman’s footprints up there.’

‘Oh. Well I was up there earlier in the day.’

‘Why?’

‘Most of my guests were out sailing. I went there to see if I could catch sight of them so that I would have a better feel for timing.’

He stares at me.

‘I also go there to think and have a cigarette.’

‘I see.’

But I am sure he doesn’t.

He taps the pencil on the pad. ‘When did you realize that your husband was missing?’

‘When I woke up to Diana practising the piano this morning.’

‘Were you concerned that he wasn’t with you?’

‘To be honest, not unduly. He’s been known to fall asleep in a chair when he’s had a few too many.’ I look down at my hands. The diamonds in my wedding ring catches the sunlight. I spin it round.

‘So what did you do?’

‘I came downstairs and began to look for him, but he wasn’t in the usual spots as Diana and I checked the house.’

‘Did you think he might be with another guest?’

I raise an eyebrow. ‘I’m not sure what you think of us but there was no bedroom hopping here last night.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘Large quantities of gin, wine, champagne, port and cognac put paid to even the most ardent of ventures.’

‘Fair point. Everyone drank heavily last night?’

‘Yes, no one except Diana and the Hoskines would have been sober.’

‘The Venns?’ he asks.

‘They weren’t either.’ I don’t want to think about them in any way, but I know I will have questions of another sort to answer soon.

‘They drove?’

‘No, they took their tender.’

He taps his pencil on the paper again. ‘What do you know about them?’

‘Not much at all. Allan and Diana met them a day or two after we arrived on holiday.’

He runs his finger down his notes before looking at me. ‘What made you check the beach this morning?’