Chapter Sixteen

His words produced an astonished silence. He smiled in his apologetic way and took advantage of his audience's surprise to get up and replenish his glass. “We shall be needing some more whisky, Tony,” he remarked. “Thought I'd better mention it.”

The Superintendent found his voice. “You don't know where you spent the night of 17th June?” he repeated.

“No,” said Roger. “I don't.”

“Come, Mr Vereker, that is not quite good enough!” There was a note of anger in Hannasyde's voice, but it left Roger unmoved. “Well, I was in London. That I can tell you.”

“For God's sake, Roger, pull yourself together!” his cousin besought him. “You dined at the Trocadero, didn't you?”

Roger thought this over. “Wasn't it the Monico?” he inquired.

“Did you pay for your dinner with a ten-pound note?” demanded Hannasyde.