She cocked her head on one side. "I should have thought you were capable of being a trifle primitive. What's more, your somewhat unexpected appearance on the scene must look a bit fishy to him."
"Why should it? If I'd murdered Fletcher I should hardly have come down here today."
She considered this dispassionately. "Dunno. It's a point, of course, but it would have looked bad if you'd lain low, and he'd found out that you weren't in Berlin at all."
"Give me credit for a little common sense, Sally. When I commit a murder I can assure you I shall take good care to cover my tracks." He glanced at his wrist-watch. "Ask them to put lunch forward, will you, Helen? I've got to go back to town."
"I'll go and tell Evans," offered Sally, and went out, firmly shutting the door behind her.
Helen mechanically straightened an ornament on the mantelpiece. "Are you - are you coming back?" she asked.
"Certainly I'm coming back," he replied.
She hesitated, then said in a low voice: "You're very angry about this…'
"We won't discuss that. The mischief is done, and I imagine my possible anger is unlikely to make you regret it more than you are already doing."
She lifted her hand to her cheek. "You don't believe me, but I wasn't having an affair with Ernie."