‘What young lady? What crime?’

‘You are a suspect, Mr Vitale,’ said Holmes. ‘Now listen carefully. I am a scientist like yourself, and inclined to trust what you say. The police will look at you as an exotic bird, believe me, I know about this. There is evidence against you, and they will arrest you without hesitation.’

‘Be clear, sir! Arrest me for what?’

‘You were seen and heard outside the Cross and Anchor, having a shouting argument with Miss Dillie Wyndham at about two o’clock this morning.’

Two spots of colour appeared on the young man’s white cheeks.

‘How is that anyone’s business? What crime? Is Dillie all right?’

‘I need to know the subject of that argument.’

Vitale stared at Holmes. ‘Miss Wyndham has taken flight again? Is that it?’

‘Mr Vitale, tell me now, and I may be able to help you. What was the subject of your argument?’

I volunteered, ‘Mr Holmes is trying to help you, young man.’

Vitale blinked, thinking quickly. ‘I asked Dillie for my ring back. She refused.’

‘A ring you gave to her? What kind of ring?’

‘My mother’s ring: a small sapphire with two diamonds. A family heirloom. Please tell me what has happened.’

‘I see. You proposed marriage, then? She accepted you?’

The young man nodded.

‘But then you saw that Miss Wyndham’s engagement to Freddie Eden-Summers was announced in the papers,’ said Holmes.

Vitale stiffened. ‘Eden-Summers is a damned fool. That foppish idiot could never make her happy! And she had already …’ His eyes glazed over, and he blinked rapidly.

‘She had accepted you?’ Holmes murmured.

Leo Vitale nodded, back in control.

‘But last night, when Miss Wyndham refused to give you back the ring, you lost your temper. Shouts were heard. What happened after your argument?’

‘I left. I walked the streets for a while,’ said Vitale.

‘You did not go up to her room?’

‘No.’

‘Not to retrieve your mother’s ring?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I was more upset about the … about her … not the ring.’

‘Even so, why did you not go up and see her?’ persisted Holmes.

‘Have you met Dillie?’

‘Yes, I see. Did you encounter anyone while walking in the streets? Anyone who might remember you?’

The young man leaped to his feet. ‘Tell me what has happened. Why are the police involved? Is Dillie all right?’

Holmes was silent. Vitale looked from one of us to the other.

‘She is dead, isn’t she? Dillie Wyndham. Is she dead?’

Holmes nodded.

Vitale inhaled sharply as though someone had punched him in the stomach, but only a flicker of emotion reached his face. There was much of Sherlock Holmes in this boy.

Just then I heard a noise in the hallway. ‘Police!’ we heard a gruff voice bellow nearby. This was followed by a furious knocking on a nearby door.

Holmes glanced at the window. ‘The fire escape. Now!’ he barked.

The young man hesitated.