'Have you had bad experiences with Macbeth before?'

'More than once,' she replied with a slight grimace. 'The worst occasion was in Abergavenny last year. I was in the middle of the sleep-walking scene when a balcony at the rear of the hall collapsed. There was the most appalling amount of noise and dust so I simply raised my voice over it. Miraculously, nobody was badly injured but I was so grateful to get offstage at the end of the scene.'

'I don't think you'll have that problem in Cardiff, Miss Linnane.'

She rolled her eyes dramatically. 'I always have a problem in Wales,' she moaned. 'That's why I hate coming here. On our last visit, we performed The Merchant of Venice in Swansea.'

'Then you doubtless took the role of Portia.'

'I tried to, Inspector. During my speech in the trial scene one night, a dog suddenly scampered up on to the stage and bit Bassanio on the ankle. Laughter drowned out every subsequent line.'

'I'm sure you overcame the interruption like the consummate artiste you are,' he said, nobly. 'I had the good fortune to see your Desdemona and your Ophelia. Both were truly memorable.'

'Thank you!' she said with a delighted titter. 'I had a feeling that you might be a theatregoer though, judging by your appearance, you should be on the stage rather than in the audience. You have the look of a born actor, Inspector.'

'I did toil in an allied profession,' he admitted. 'For some years, I was a barrister and there's a histrionic element in every court case. To that extent, I was something of an actor though I could never aspire to the standard set by you and by Mr Buckmaster. However,' he went on, 'diverting as it would be, I haven't come to discuss the world of theatre. A more pressing business has brought me here.'

'Mr Kellow!' she sighed. 'It's terrifying to think that such a thing could happen to him. I was amazed to hear that he was in this hotel. When he left us at the station, he was going to deliver the coffee pot to a house on the outskirts of the town.'