“And after that?”
The Inspector was evidently delighted with his idea.
“That leaves us with Polegate in Harlequin dress on the terrace, with a minute or two to spare before the cordon was ready to move forward into the spinney.”
“Admitted.”
“Do you remember the camouflaged ships in the War, Sir Clinton?”
“I sailed in one, if that’s what you mean.”
“Well, you know what they were like: all sorts of cock-eyed streaks and colours mixed up in a regular tangle to destroy their real outlines. And what’s a Harlequin’s costume? Isn’t it the very same thing?”
Sir Clinton confirmed this with an historical allusion.
“You’re quite correct, Inspector. As a matter of fact, the Harlequin’s dress was originally designed to represent Invisibility. Nobody except Columbine was supposed to be able to see Harlequin, you know.”
Inspector Armadale hurried to his conclusion.