Holmes continued, unperturbed. ‘Meanwhile, Miss Wyndham cleared up the ink the best she could and awaited the deacon’s return. My theory is that she got into bed so as to appear to provide a warm welcome. One can only presume she planned to offer herself to him. Hence the ink stain on the inside of the bed.’ Holmes took a sip of water.

‘Notice that I said “appear”’ he continued. ‘Because when Deacon Buttons returned, she told him that the money he received was not enough and she sent him next to retrieve a third ring, which she said was still back at the Cross and Anchor. It is my belief that she then got up, began to pack up her belongings, and was preparing to abscond with the pawnshop funds. Her plan all along.’

‘You are conjuring,’ said Lamb derisively. ‘You will have better luck on stage as a novelty act!’

‘I may consider it if work dries up,’ said Holmes with a smile. ‘In any case, Buttons returned to find that Miss Wyndham, the money and all her belongings were gone. He was staggered at this discovery. But he would have been even more so had he understood what had just transpired in that room. Because … while Deacon Buttons was at the Cross and Anchor, the killer came in and attacked Miss Wyndham. They fought, and she received a fatal blow to the head, from the water-jug, most likely. The killer then quickly tried to erase all signs of the fight, even proceeding to dump Dillie’s body in the convenient lock, pulling the lever so that the body would wash downstream, and then took her belongings somewhere we have yet to discover.’

‘So … Vitale returned,’ said Lamb.

‘No, it was another.’

‘You said Miss Wyndham was killed for love,’ exclaimed Hadley. ‘I don’t understand which of the three young men, then, was her killer?’

‘None of them. I have eliminated all three.’

Father Lamb looked at him in disdain. He turned to Inspector Hadley. ‘Perhaps the great detective from London is a trifle overrated. Vitale has confessed! Dillie Wyndham’s treachery destroyed him. Regret is the reason for his suicide. Let me collect Deacon Buttons, and we will be out of your hair.’

‘I am not quite finished, Mr Lamb,’ said Holmes. ‘What has been missing in this investigation is a fourth suspect. There was a fourth person with a motive to kill Miss Wyndham. Perhaps a less obvious motive than the three men who loved her.’

‘Atalanta Wyndham!’ I exclaimed. Of course. ‘She shot me. She was in love with Freddie Eden-Summers!’

The room sat silent. Everyone turned to look at me. Was it possible that for once, just for one time only, I was ahead of my friend in the matter? Perhaps I should not have blurted this out, but rather let him take the lead.

I faltered.