“Yes, you were. She’s been a thorn in the side of this family since you first learned of her. Did you believe your brother Walter left the Belvedere Clinic to travel to Hobson? Is that why you sent Peter there to find out what he could?”

“Peter didn’t discuss his private affairs with us.”

“Come now. I was told that he’d gone to Cambridge with Edwin. And that was a lie; he was in Hobson. Susannah told me about Lieutenant Burrows, and that was a lie. She knew the truth and was trying to help conceal it. But Jenny knew nothing.” He considered her for a moment. “What did you do, go through his papers looking for some clue to why Walter was ill and not responding? At a guess you found something that set off alarm bells. And you haven’t put it back, have you? Because I saw the file this morning, and it held only a will.”

He could read the answer in her eyes. That was precisely what someone had done.

“Was it your brother Edwin and his wife? The head of the family, with his strong sense of duty? Yes, I’m sure it was. The truth must have come as a shock. And so Peter—the real Peter Teller—was dispatched to Lancashire to see who this woman was, what she might want, and whether Walter was leaving Jenny for her.”

She picked up her plate and put it on the tray for Mollie to collect. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your lunch, Inspector. I’m afraid I have much to do.”

Leticia walked out without looking back.

Rutledge said to the empty room, “With Florence Teller dead, and Peter, and Jenny, the past is wiped out. Except for Harry . . .”

Hamish answered him, “There’s the Captain’s wife.”

Susannah, who refused to set foot in this house again.

“But she’s loyal to the family.”

“Was loyal.”

It was a very good point. Could she be trusted to keep the secret? He went to the telephone and put in a call to the Yard. Sergeant Gibson listened to Rutledge’s request, then said, “It’s going to be difficult getting it past the Chief Superintendent, but I’ll see that a watch is set. You don’t care to explain why it’s needed?”

Rutledge said, “Early days,” and let it go at that.

Edwin Teller met him in the passage and said, “I should think the Yard would have no further business with the family. I’m told you’ve found your murderer. I’m glad. A pity Peter couldn’t hear that as well.”

“Indeed,” Rutledge agreed. “I’m leaving this afternoon for London, there’s something there I must do. I’ll be back by tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t know why you should return at all.”

“There are loose ends.”