“No, Father, I didn’t.”
“Colin?”
“No, Father, honestly.”
“On your most solemn word of honour, both of you.”
“No, Father,” repeated the twins. And Stephen added: “We’re not sorry he’s dead, of course, but it’s a filthy way to k-kill anybody.”
“Lousy,” agreed Colin cheerfully.
“I know very well that it seems grossly stupid and fantastic to ask you,” said Lord Charles. “Of course you are quite incapable of it. What I–I implore you to believe is that it is the last word in dangerous lunacy for an innocent man to lie to the police.”
“That’s what I keep t-telling Colin,” said Stephen.
“Then why don’t you take your own advice?” asked Colin. “Don’t be a fool. I went down in the lift, Father, and Stephen stayed in the drawing-room.”
“Which is a complete and sweltering lie,” added Stephen.