‘Dario and I, we married a month later. Two days after wedding, Santo threatened Dario. Nothing came from this, but eight months later Santo made the mistake while performing, and he lost the tip of a finger.’

Holmes leaned forward. ‘How?’

‘Yes, how do you lose a finger while mind-reading?’ I asked. The two of them had vexed me beyond all patience.

‘Another part of show: the close-up. Santo has a little guillotine. Is a device Dario sold to him. Very common trick, but I have changed it and made much more exciting. But something … something went wrong. It chopped off the end of Santo’s finger. And this for him is a tragedy. The close-up magic relies on the quick fingers.’

‘Did you examine the device after?’ asked Holmes.

‘No. Santo did not allow.’

‘You said Dario sold him the device, which you had improved. In what way did you make this trick more exciting?’ persisted Holmes.

‘A real human finger come out. With real blood.’

‘Ugh,’ I said.

‘The children love it!’ said Madame.

‘More fingers! And how does one manage the sheer volume required?’ I asked.

‘Purchased, Watson!’ Holmes asked. ‘As this one no doubt was!’

I wondered about the black market in body parts for stage magicians. ‘Perhaps you could patronize Madame Tussaud,’ I suggested.

‘Many tricks are dangerous,’ said the lady. ‘And complicated. They require skill and courage. Especially those of the Great Borelli. Mi Dario is the escape-artist king. He goes chained into the ocean or a big tank of water. We set fire to a big copper pot while he is tied up inside. Or in a box which falls from great height. Tricks require great skill, great courage. Otherwise, everyone would do them.’

‘Back to this finger,’ Holmes said. ‘This Santo Colangelo fellow is vengeful. He believes Dario carried out this sabotage. So just now he sent you a finger. A warning, perhaps?’

‘That is what I would like you to find out.’

Holmes did the calculation. ‘This accident that ruined Colangelo’s finger? Three months ago, then?’

‘Three months, yes.’

Holmes offered a cigarette to the lady. She declined and he lit one for himself. ‘You have been married only eleven months. And yet already you have fallen out of love with your new husband.’

She stood up abruptly. ‘You! You are a real mind reader. How you know this? How you see this?’

‘Oh, do sit down,’ said Holmes irritably.

I stood and gestured politely. She was certainly an exciteable lady. ‘Please,’ I added. I poured her another tea. At least one of us had manners. ‘Have a biscuit.’

She eyed the platter, took one, and sat down.