Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 11: Photo-Finish, Light Thickens, Black Beech and Honeydew. Ngaio Marsh

then looked appalled. ‘I shouldn’t be like this,’ he said. ‘Even though, as a matter of fact, it’s no more than the truth. But I mustn’t bore you with my woes.’

      ‘Where is your room?’

      ‘One flight up. Why? Oh, I see. You’re wondering what brought me down here, aren’t you? You’ll think it very peculiar and it’s not easy to explain but actually it was that thing about being drawn towards something that gives one the horrors like edges of precipices and spiders. You know? After trying to sleep and getting nightmares I began to think I had to make myself come down to this floor and cross the landing outside – that room. When I went to bed I actually used the staff stairs to avoid doing that very thing and here I was under this beastly compulsion. So I did it. I hated it and I did it. And in the event there was our rather good-looking chauffeur, Bert, snoring on chairs. He must have very acute hearing, because when I crossed the landing he opened his eyes and stared at me. It was disconcerting because he didn’t utter. I lost my head and said: “Oh, hullo, Bert, it’s perfectly all right. Don’t get up,” and made a bolt of it into this passage and saw the light under your door. I seem to be cold. Would you think it too bold if I asked you if I might have a brandy? I didn’t downstairs because I make it a rule never to unless the Boss-Man offers and anyway I don’t really like the stuff. But I think – tonight –’

      ‘Yes, of course. Help yourself.’

      ‘Terrific,’ Hanley said. Alleyn saw him half fill a small tumbler, take a pull at it, shudder violently and close his eyes.

      ‘Would you mind awfully if I turned on that radiator?’ he asked. ‘Our central heating goes off between twelve and seven.’

      Alleyn turned it on. Hanley sat close to it on the edge of the throne and nursed his brandy. ‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘I feel much better. Sweet of you to understand.’

      Alleyn, as far as he knew, had given no sign of having understood anything. He had been thinking that Hanley was the second distraught visitor to the studio over the past forty-eight hours and that in a way he was a sort of unconvincing parody of Rupert Bartholomew. It struck him that Hanley was making the most of his distress, almost relishing it.

      ‘As you’re feeling better,’ he suggested, ‘perhaps you won’t mind putting me straight on one or two domestic matters – especially concerning the servants.’

      ‘If I can,’ Hanley said readily enough.

      ‘I hope you can. You’ve been with Mr Reece for some years, haven’t you?’

      ‘Since January 1977. I was a senior secretary with the Hoffman-Beilstein Group in New York. Transferred from their Sydney offices. The Boss-Man was chums with them in those days and I saw quite a lot of him. And he of me. His secretary had died and in the upshot,’ said Hanley, a little too casually, ‘I got the job.’ He finished his brandy. ‘It was all quite amicable and took place during a cruise on the Caribbean in the Hoffman yacht. I was on duty. The Boss-Man was a guest. I think it was then that he found out about the Hoffman-Beilstein organization being naughty. He’s absolutely Caesar’s Wife himself. Well, you know what I mean. Pure as the driven snow. Incidentally, that was when he first encountered The Lady,’ said Hanley and his mouth tightened. ‘But without any noticeable reaction. He wasn’t really a lady’s man.’

      ‘No?’

      ‘Oh no. She made all the running. And, face it, she was a collector’s piece. It was like pulling off a big deal. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, it was – well – far from being a grande passion. Oh dear, there I go again. But it was, as you might say, a very aseptic relationship.’

      This chimed, Alleyn thought, with Dr Carmichael’s speculation.

      ‘Yes, I see,’ he said lightly. ‘Has Mr Reece any business relationships with Hoffman-Beilstein?’

      ‘He pulled out. Like I said, he didn’t fancy the way things shaped up. There were very funny rumours. He broke everything off after the cruise. Actually he rescued Madame – and me – at the same time. That’s how it all started.’

      ‘I see. And now – about the servants.’

      ‘I suppose you mean Marco and Maria, don’t you? Straight out of grand opera the two of them. Without the voice for it, of course.’

      ‘Did they come into the household before your time?’

      ‘Maria came with Madame, of course, at the same time as I made my paltry entrance. I understand the Boss-Man produced her. From the Italian Embassy or somewhere rather smooth. But Marco arrived after me.’

      ‘When was that?’

      ‘Three years ago. The Boss-Man wanted a personal servant. I advertised and Marco was easily the best bet. He had marvellous references. We thought that being Italian he might understand Maria and The Lady.’

      ‘Would that be about the time when Strix began to operate?’

      ‘About then, yes,’ Hanley agreed and then stared at Alleyn. ‘Oh no!’ he said. ‘You’re not suggesting? Or are you?’

      ‘I’m not suggesting anything. Naturally I would like to hear more about Strix. Can you give me any idea of how many times the offensive photographs appeared?’

      Hanley eyed him warily. ‘Not precisely,’ he said. ‘There had been some on her European tour, before I joined the circus. About six I think. I’ve filed them and could let you know.’

      ‘Thank you. And afterwards? After you and Marco had both arrived on the scene?’

      ‘Now you’ll be making me feel awkward. No, of course you won’t. I don’t mean that. Let me think. There was the one in Double Bay when he bounced round a corner in dark glasses with a scarf over his mouth. And the stage-door débâcle when he was in drag, and the one in Melbourne when he came alongside in a car and shot off before they could see what he was like. And of course the really awful one on the Opera House steps. There was a rumour then that he was a blond. That’s only four!’ Hanley exclaimed. ‘With all the hullabaloo it seemed more like the round dozen. It certainly did the trick with Madame. The scenes!’ He finished his brandy.

      ‘Did Madame Sommita keep in touch with her family, do you know?’

      ‘I don’t think there is any family in Australia. I think I’ve heard they’re all in the States. I don’t know what they’re called or anything, really, about them. The origins, one understood, were of the earth, earthy.’

      ‘In her circle of acquaintances, are there many – or any – Italians?’

      ‘Well –’ Hanley said, warming slightly to the task, ‘let’s see. There are the ambassadorial ones. We always make VIP noises about them, of course. And I understand there was a big Italian fan mail in Australia. We’ve a considerable immigrant population over there, you know.’

      ‘Did you ever hear of anybody called Rossi?’

      Hanley shook his head slowly. ‘Not to remember.’

      ‘Or Pepitone?’

      ‘No. What an enchanting fun-name. Is he a fan? But, honestly, I don’t have anything to do with The Lady’s acquaintances or correspondents or on-goings of any sort. If you want to dig into her affairs,’ said Hanley, and now a sneer was clearly to be heard, ‘you’d better ask the infant phenomenon, hadn’t you?’

      ‘Bartholomew?’

      ‘Who else? He’s supposed to be her secretary. Secretary! My God!’

      ‘You don’t approve of Bartholomew?’

      ‘He’s marvellous to look at, of course.’

      ‘Looks apart?’

      ‘One doesn’t want to be catty,’ said Hanley,