‘I don’t follow it all. Well, first of all he behaved very badly in Perugia. He got into a wild set and ran out of money, it appears, and—oh, I don’t know—sold something he hadn’t paid for. And that wretched murderer Mailer got him out of it. Or said he had. And then—when we were in that ghastly church, Mailer spoke to me about it and said the police—the police—were making a fuss and unless he could “satisfy” them it would all come out and Kenneth would be—imagine it!—arrested. He wanted £500 paid into some bank somewhere. All I had to do was to write an open cheque and he would—what’s the word—negotiate the whole thing and we could forget it.’

‘Did you write this cheque?’

‘Not there and then. He said he would hold the police off for two days and call for the cheque at midday today. And then, of course, there was this thing about his disappearing and all the murder horror. And then Giovanni—you know?—rather sweet, or so I thought. Giovanni said he knew all about it and he would arrange everything only now it would be more expensive. And he came in here after lunch today and said the situation was more difficult than he had understood from Mailer and he would want £800 in lire or it might be easier if I let him have some jewellery instead. And I’ve got rather a famous tiara thing my second husband gave me only it’s in the bank here. And quite a lot of rings. He seemed to know all about my jewellery.’

‘Did you give him anything?’

‘Yes. I did. I gave him my diamond and emerald sunburst. It’s insured for £900, I think. I’ve never really liked it frightfully. But still—

‘Lady Braceley, why are you telling me all this?’

‘Because,’ she said, ‘I’m frightened. I’m just frightened. I’m out of my depth. Kenneth behaves so oddly and, clearly, he’s got himself into the most hideous mess. And although I’m awfully fond of him I don’t think it’s fair to land me in it, too. And I can’t cope. I feel desperately ill. That place—I don’t know whether you—anyway they gave me something to turn me on and it wasn’t anything like they tell you it’ll be. It was too awful. Mr Alleyn, please, please be kind and help me.’

She wept and chattered and dabbed at him with her awful claws. In a moment, he thought, she’ll take off into the full hysteria bit.

‘You’re ill,’ he said. ‘Is there anything I can get you?’

‘Over there. In the drinks place. Tablets. And brandy.’