“Sit down,” invited Antonia. “What do you want to know?”

“What was in that letter,” replied the Superintendent promptly.

“Which letter? - Oh, Arnold's! Nothing much.”

“If there was nothing much in it why did you destroy it?” asked Hannasyde.

“It was that sort of a letter.”

“What sort of a letter?”

“The sort you destroy - Look here, we're beginning to sound like a pair of cross-talk comedians!” Antonia pointed out.

“Very like,” agreed the Superintendent evenly. “Did you destroy the letter because it contained a rather serious accusation against Mr Rudolph Mesurier?”

Antonia looked defensive. “It didn't.”

“Quite sure, Miss Vereker?”