Nevertheless, let me recap. Miss Kohler's early release – ‘ 'Early!' ‘Indeed. HM Government has agreed for humanitarian reasons to anticipate the proper legal process, but not without undertakings on your part. These are principally that Miss Kohler has agreed that neither she nor her advisers will make any public comment, nor publish any form of memoir of this unhappy business, without the approval of the authorities. In return for this undertaking, HM Government has indicated it will offer no resistance to any legitimate claim for compensation.' 'Big of them.' 'I think so. Also Miss Kohler has agreed to remain in this country until the completion of the official inquiry into the circumstances leading up to this unfortunate miscarriage.'

'Which could take years!' 'No. I assure you matters are moving fast.

Deputy Chief Constable Hiller whom you have met has the business in hand and we anticipate a speedy conclusion. Incidentally, Mr Hiller tells me that if by chance Miss Kohler had kept any written record of the events at Mickledore Hall, sight of it, on loan of course, might speed matters up and obviate the need of any further interview with her.'

Waggs laughed.

'Come on, Sempernel! You know there's no record. You guys went through her cell like a pack of rats before she got out.'

The long man smiled thinly.

'The papers seem to think she may have had some ally through whom such a memoir may have been smuggled out to a place of security.'

'Like me, you mean? Well, I don't deny that, given the chance, I'd have been glad to help. But I wasn't and I didn't.'

'I'm happy to accept your word on that, Mr Waggs,' said Sempernel.

'There are other possible sources of assistance, of course. She was after all inside for a long time, and could hardly avoid forming relationships. The unfortunate Miss Bush, for instance…'