"Sophia, I've got to talk to you. Where can we go?"

For a moment I thought she was going to demur, then she turned and said: "This way."

We walked down across the lawn. There was a fine view across Swinly Dean's No 1 course - away to a clump of pine trees on a hill, and beyond it, to the dimness of hazy countryside.

Sophia led me to a rockgarden, now somewhat neglected, where there was a rustic wooden seat of great discomfort, and we sat down.

"Well?" she said.

Her voice was not encouraging.

I said my piece - all of it.

She listened very attentively. Her face gave little indication of what she was thinking, but when I came at last to a full stop, she sighed. It was a deep sigh.

"Your father," she said, "is a very clever man."

"The Old Man has his points. I think it's a rotten idea myself - but -"

She interrupted me.

"Oh no," she said. "It isn't a rotten idea at all. It's the only thing that might be any good. Your father, Charles, knows exactly what's been going on in my mind. He knows better than you do."

With sudden almost despairing vehemence, she drove one clenched hand into the palm of the other.

"I've got to have the truth. I've got to know."

"Because of us? But, dearest -"

"Not only because of us, Charles. I've got to know for my own peace of mind.

You see, Charles, I didn't tell you last night - but the truth is - I'm afraid."

"Afraid?"

"Yes - afraid - afraid - afraid. The police think, your father thinks, everybody thinks - that it was Brenda."

"The probabilities -"

"Oh yes, it's quite probable. It's possible.

But when I say, 'Brenda probably did it'

I'm quite conscious that it's only wishful thinking. Because, you see, I don't really think so." ^ "You don't think so?" I said slowly.

"I don't know. You've heard about it all from the outside as I wanted you to. Now I'll show it to you from the inside. I simply don't feel that Brenda is that kind of a person - she's not the sort of person, I a feel, who would ever do anything that might involve her in any danger. She's far too careful of herself."