Dale shifted again. His arm came down. He said,

“Certainly not.”

“Did you go straight to the aerodrome?”

“Well, no, we didn’t. It was a lovely evening, and we drove about a bit.”

“Did you go in the direction of Tane Head?”

“Yes – in that sort of direction.”

“And did you stop your car and walk up on to the headland?”

Dale made an abrupt movement.

“Look here, Inspector-”

He met a very steady, intelligent gaze. Inspector March said equably,

“Lady Steyne’s car was seen standing by the track which leads on to the headland from Berry Lane. You will understand that I am anxious to know who else was on the cliffs last night. How long were you there?”

Dale Jerningham sat forward.

“I don’t know – some time – we walked about a bit.”

“Did you go right up to the headland?”

“Yes, I think we did.”

“Did you see anyone whilst you were there?”

“There were some children in the lane.”

“No one else?”

Dale was silent.

“Mr Jerningham, if you did see anyone, it is a serious matter for you to withhold the fact.”

There was a moment of doubt and something like strain. Then it gave. Dale said,

“I appreciate that. It is just because it may be serious that I hesitate. You see, the person I saw was Pell.”

The Inspector looked at him keenly.

“Where did you see him?”

“He was coming down from the headland. He passed us and got on his motorbike and rode away.”

“What time was that?”

“I don’t know – somewhere well before ten. There was still some light.”

“Did he see you?”

“I don’t know. We saw him.”

The Inspector was silent for a while. If Pell had a motor-bike, there would have been time to pick Cissie up at the gates of Tanfield Court or on the road into the village. There would have been time for him to reach the headland with her, leaving his machine in the lane or on the track to the cliff. There would have been time-

He asked suddenly, “Where was the motor-bike?”

“Up along the track,” said Dale.

“How far from the lane?”

“Half way to the cliff.”

“Was he in a hurry?”

“In the devil of a hurry. That is why I wasn’t sure whether he had seen us. He came running down the track, flung himself on the bike, started up, and went tearing away like mad.”

Inspector March wrote that down. He was thinking, “Well – ce n’est que le premier pas qui coûte. One minute he won’t say anything because the man is a poor devil who’s been in his employ, and the next he’s positively offering me the rope to hang him with.” He looked up and asked,

“You didn’t see any sign of the girl?”

“No.”

“Or hear any cry?”

“No- nothing. There are always seagulls.”

“What did you do after that, Mr. Jerningham?”

“I think we walked up towards the cliff.”

“And you neither saw nor heard anything of an unusual nature?”

“No.”

“And when did you reach the aerodrome?”

Dale leaned back.

“About eleven o’clock.”

Chapter 20

I SHOULD like to see Lady Steyne,” said the Inspector. He got up and went towards the bell.

Dale Jerningham stopped him.

“You needn’t bother to ring – I’ll fetch her. I expect she’s on the terrace.”

He got a shrewd, straight glance.

“I was going to ask you to wait here till she came.” A firm thumb pressed the bell.

Dale said, “Oh, just as you like.” He strolled over to the window and stood there looking out.

William came, and went.

Presently the door opened again and Alicia Steyne came in. She glanced first at the Inspector, who had remained standing, and then at Dale, who came to meet her. The Inspector thought her a very pretty woman and much younger than he had expected. Her neck and arms were bare and brown. Her white linen dress showed a slim and pretty figure.

There was a carnation colour in her cheeks and her eyes sparkled. He noticed that they dwelt upon her cousin. He said,

“I needn’t keep you now, Mr. Jerningham. Will you sit down, Lady Steyne?”

Dale got half way to the door. Then he turned and said,

“I had to tell him about seeing Pell on the track. I put it at well before ten. Is that what you would say?”

Alicia sat down composedly. She seemed to consider the question.

“I don’t know – I suppose so. Does it matter?”

“It might.” said the Inspector. “If you don’t mind, Mr. Jerningham, I would rather Lady Steyne made quite an independent statement.”

Dale said, “Oh, all right,” hesitated a moment, and then went out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

The Inspector sat down and took up his pen.

Alicia was lighting a cigarette. When she had got it going she tossed the spent match into the waste-paper basket with an accurate, vigorous aim, and said in her sweet, high voice,

“This is a damnable business, isn’t it? Dale’s horribly upset about it.”

“In what way, Lady Steyne?”

She sketched a gesture with her cigarette.

“Oh, well, you know – the whole thing – this wretched man Pell being in his employment. And Dale swore by him – said he was the best mechanic he had ever had. You know he’s mad on flying, and he was going to have his own plane and keep Pell for the ground work. He really was awfully good. I hear he’s bolted. Have you got him yet?”

“No, not yet. Did you know this girl Cissie Cole?”

Alicia drew at the cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke.

“I knew her when she was a child. This was my home till I married. I was brought up here with my cousins, so of course I know everyone in the village. Dale’s very feudal, you know. That’s why he went off the deep end about Pell. The Coles belong to Tanfield, they’ve belonged for about three hundred years, and Tanfield belongs to him. Touch one of my people and you touch me. Pell might have committed bigamy in any other village in England, but not in Tanfield. You see?”

March nodded.

“Yes. You say you knew Cissie Cole as a child. Had you not seen her since?”

“Oh, yes – at intervals – as one does, you know. I’ve bought stamps from her in the post office when her aunt was busy, and said good-morning when I passed her in the village – that sort of thing.”

“Did she talk to you about this affair with Pell?”

“Oh, Lord, no!” She paused, and added, “I believe she talked to Lisle – Mrs. Jerningham. I don’t live here now, you know – I’m only on a visit.”

“I see. Now, Lady Steyne, perhaps you would just tell me what you were doing between nine and eleven o’clock last night.”

Alicia sat back. She held her cigarette away and said in a considering tone,

“Nine to eleven – oh, certainly. Dale rang up the aerodrome and arranged to do some night flying – that was just before nine, I think – and then I got out my car and we drove a bit and went up on to the cliffs-”

“At Tane Head?”

“Yes.”

“How long were you there?”

“Well we got to the aerodrome at eleven. I don’t know how long we were up on the moor.” She laughed suddenly. “You know, Inspector, this is all damnably compromising- or at least that’s what it’s going to look like by the time it gets into the papers. Honestly, it’s rather hard luck. We go for a harmless evening stroll and before we know where we are we’re let in for an inquest, and everybody thinking the worst about us. Dale’s fed to the teeth.”

The Inspector thought that as far as Lady Steyne was concerned she appeared to be in very good spirits. He reflected that she was a widow and that Jerningham was married, and he speculated for a moment on Mrs. Jerninghams’ attitude towards cousinly strolls on Tane Head. He asked her about the meeting with Pell, and found her answers vague. It was quite light enough to recognise him. It had been a particularly fine evening and the light stayed late on the cliffs. He came running down the track and got on his motor-bicycle and rode away. She couldn’t say whether he saw them or not – he might have – they were not on the track, but they were not far away. She agreed that it could not have been much later than a quarter to ten. No, she hadn’t heard any cry, and she had never been near enough to the edge of the cliff to look over. No, she hadn’t seen anyone else up there. There were some children in Berry Lane.