‘He had every reason, though, to attack Sweet. But don’t give it another thought.’

Alleyn’s translation was typed, with copies, by a brisk bilingual clerk. During this period Bergarmi was rather ostentatiously busy. When the transcription was ready he and Alleyn went to the lesser office where for the second and last time the travellers were assembled. At Bergarmi’s request Alleyn handed out the copies.

‘I find this a correct summary of our joint statements,’ Alleyn said, ‘and am prepared to sign it. What about everyone else?’

Lady Braceley, who was doing her face, said with an unexpected flight of fancy: ‘I’d sign my soul to the devil if he’d get me out of here.’ She turned her raffish and disastrous gaze upon Alleyn. ‘You’re being too wonderful,’ she predictably informed him.

He said, ‘Lady Braceley, I wonder—simply out of curiosity, you know—whether you noticed anything at all odd in Sweet’s manner when he took you up to the atrium. Did you?’

He thought she might seize the chance to tell all how responsive she was to atmosphere and how she had sensed that something was wrong, or possibly come out with some really damaging bit of information. All she said, however, was: ‘I just thought him a bloody rude, common little man.’ And after a moment’s thought: ‘And I’ll eat my hat if he was ever in the Gunners.’ She waited again for a moment and then said, ‘All the same, it’s quite something, isn’t it, to have been trotted about by a murderer, however uncivil? My dear, we’ll dine on it: Kenny and I. Won’t we, darling?’

Her nephew looked up at her and gave a sort of restless acknowledgement. ‘I just don’t go with all this carry-on,’ he complained.

‘I know, darling. Too confusing. Three dead people in as many days, you might say. Still, it’s a wonderful relief to be in the clear oneself.’ She contemplated Bergarmi, smiling at him with her head on one side. ‘He really doesn’t speak English, does he? He’s not making a nonsense of us?’

Bergarmi muttered to Alleyn, ‘What is she saying? Does she object to signing? Why is she smiling at me?’

‘She doesn’t object. Perhaps she has taken a fancy to you, Signor Vice-Questore.’

‘Mamma mia!’

Alleyn suggested that if they were all satisfied they would sign and Lady Braceley instantly did so, making no pretence of reading the statement. The Van der Veghels were extremely particular and examined each point with anxious care and frequent consultations. Barnaby Grant and Sophy Jason read the typescript with professional concentration. Then they all signed. Bergarmi told them, through Alleyn, that they were free to go. They would be notified if their presence at the inquest was required. He bowed, thanked them and departed with the papers.