“Do you not wish to help the police discover the truth of what happened?” he persisted.

“Well, yes, of course… but…”

“But what you heard is so damning to someone that you would rather protect him than repeat it.”

She was thoroughly alarmed.

“No… I… you’re puttin’ me in the wrong, sir, and I’ve done nothing.”

“What did you hear, Miss Braithwaite?” he said gently. “It is very wrong indeed to lie to the police or to conceal evidence. It makes you a part of whatever happened.”

She looked horrified and her voice was sharp with fear. “I’ve no part in it!”

“What did you hear, Miss Braithwaite?” he repeated.

“She said, ‘No… no, Reverend!’ ” she whispered.

“Thank you. And what did you do?”

“Me?” She was surprised. “Nothing. Their quarrels is none of my business. I finished with the linen and started tidying the room. Then I heard Mr. Stander call out that there was something terribly wrong, and of course I went to see what it was, like we all did.” She met his eyes unhappily. Her voice dropped. “And there was Miss Bellwood lying on the floor in the hall.”

“Where was the Reverend Parmenter?”

She was sitting very still, her knees close together, her hands folded.

“I don’t know. The study door was closed, so I suppose he was in there.”

“You didn’t pass him in the corridor?”

“No sir.”

“Did you see anyone else?”

“No… no, I don’t think so.”

“Thank you. You have been most helpful.” He wished she could have told him something different, something that would make murder less likely, but he had pressed her hard, and she had told him the truth as she knew it.

He went upstairs and spoke to Stander, Parmenter’s valet, who said very much the same. He had been brushing a suit in the dressing room and had caught only the occasional word, but he had heard Unity Bellwood cry out and then say ‘No, no, Reverend!’ as nearly as he could remember, and then Mrs. Parmenter call for help. He was extremely reluctant to admit it, but he knew Miss Braithwaite had heard the same, and he did not equivocate.