‘But … but it isn’t much to her. Such a small sum. Mrs Stellion can afford it. She never even missed it,’ said Mrs Thwaite.

Gina kept quiet. It was quite clear to her that Mrs Thwaite wasn’t talking about the gin. She thought quickly.

‘Ah, but you see she has missed it,’ she said.

‘After all this time? I don’t believe you. You said she doesn’t know it’s been found yet.’

‘She doesn’t, but I do. And as housekeeper I feel it’s my duty to tell her, Mrs Thwaite.’

‘You? Housekeeper? I don’t believe that either. That’s my job. You’re just the dog walker.’

‘Not any longer, Mrs Thwaite. You’ve not kept up with the news from the Hall lately, have you? So much has happened and that’s why I’m here: to put you in the picture, so to speak. About the missing money, and the bottles of gin found in your room.’

‘But it’s only twenty-five pounds or so, and I only took a little at a time, and they would have said something before if they’d noticed it had gone.’

Got you!

‘Twenty-five pounds, seven shillings,’ said Gina, improvising with confidence now. ‘That, and the bottles of gin, which you also stole from them, and drank while you were supposed to be working.’

‘I never—’

‘Yes, you did. That’s how you slipped and fell in the conservatory that day, wasn’t it, Mrs Thwaite? Drunk and falling over. Mrs Stellion will realise that at once when I tell her you stole the gin as well as all that money.’

‘No!’ wailed Mrs Thwaite. ‘I never drank while I was working.’

‘Do you think anyone is going to believe you when you took the money as well?’

Mrs Thwaite was sobbing now. ‘Since my Robbie died … in the war … it’s been so difficult … and I was so lonely … so glad of the job at the Hall. And then … and then lately I couldn’t sleep, and I just thought if I tried a little … a little nightcap it might help …’

With an expression of distaste, Gina watched the old lady break down. She’d come here with one aim and she wasn’t going to be sidetracked by pity. She stood over Mrs Thwaite in silence until the sobs subsided.