“That was only because he thought you'd like to murder him,” replied Antonia irrepressibly. “He said you -” She broke off, flushing scarlet. “Oh, Lord, what on earth am I saying? It was only a joke, of course! He didn't really think so!”
“No, I should hardly suppose he did,” said Leslie quietly. “I can't say I liked him much, but I hadn't any desire to murder him. However, perhaps it's just as well that I've got an alibi.” She turned to Hannasyde and smiled. “I was with Mr Kenneth Vereker last night, from a quarter to eight onwards. We had dinner together at the Carlton, and went on from there to the Albert Hall, where we danced till after four o'clock. Then we came back here.”
“Were you together the entire evening, Miss Rivers?”
“Yes, of course,” she answered.
Kenneth's eyes went swiftly to her face with a look in them hard to read.
“Did you go to the ball alone, or in a party?” asked Hannasyde.
It seemed to Giles that she hesitated for a moment.
“We joined a party,” she said.
“A large party, Miss Rivers?”
“No, not very.”