The Questore continued. In view of the death of this unfortunate woman, and because Mr Mailer was a British subject, he had asked Superintendent Alleyn to assist, which he had most graciously consented to do. The Questore felt sure that the Superintendent’s fellow-countrymen would greatly prefer the few enquiries to be under his guidance. In any case, he ended, the proceedings would probably be very short and there would be no radical interference in their holidays. He bowed to the Van der Veghels and added that he hoped they, also, would find themselves in agreement with this plan.

‘But, of course,’ the Baron said. ‘It is a satisfactory and intelligent suggestion. A crime has been committed. It is our duty to assist. At the same time I am glad of your assurance that we shall not be detained for very long. After all,’ and he bowed to Alleyn, ‘we are also, on vacation.’

With many mellifluous assurances the Questore begged them to withdraw to a room which had been placed at Alleyn’s disposal.

It was less sumptuous than the first office but more than sufficient for the purpose. There was a desk for Alleyn and extra chairs were brought in for the seven travellers. He noticed that Barnaby Grant was quick to place himself next to Sophy Jason, that Major Sweet was fractionally less bleary-eyed than he had been, that Lady Braceley had better luck with a new cigarette and in controlling the tremor that was nevertheless still in evidence. Kenneth, fidgety and resentful, looked out of the corner of his eye at Alleyn and clearly was not much mollified by the official pronouncement.

Alleyn’s chief concern was to avoid sounding like a replay of the Valdarno disc.

‘This is both a tragic and an absurd situation,’ he said, ‘and I don’t really know what you’ll be making of it. Cutting it down to size it amounts to this. An unfortunate woman has been murdered and a rather strange individual of presumed British nationality has disappeared. We seem to be the last people to have seen him and the police, obviously, want to get statements from all of us. Signor Valdarno is much too grand a personage to handle the case: he’s the equivalent in rank of our Chief Constable or perhaps Assistant Commissioner. His man in charge doesn’t speak English and because I’m a cop he’s asked me to sort it out. I hope that’s all right with all of you. I could hardly refuse, could I?’

‘You might have told us about your job,’ Major Sweet said resentfully.

‘But why? You haven’t told us about yours.’

The Major reddened.

‘Look,’ Alleyn said. ‘Let’s get it over shall we? The sooner the better, surely.’

‘Certainly,’ Sophy Jason said. ‘By all means, let’s.’

Grant said, ‘Oh, by all means,’ in a wooden voice, and Lady Braceley and Kenneth made plaintive sounds of acceptance.