Winsor.  Well!  You are—!

     There is a knock on the door, and the inspector enters.

Inspector.  I’m just going, gentlemen.  The grounds, I’m sorry to say, have yielded nothing.  It’s a bit of a puzzle.

Canynge.  You’ve searched thoroughly?

Inspector.  We have, General.  I can pick up nothing near the terrace.

Winsor. [After a look at de Levis, whose face expresses too much] H’m! 
You’ll take it up from the other end, then, Inspector?

Inspector.  Well, we’ll see what we can do with the bookmakers about the numbers, sir.  Before I go, gentlemen—­you’ve had time to think it over—­ there’s no one you suspect in the house, I suppose?

     De LEVIS’s face is alive and uncertain.  Canynge is staring at him
     very fixedly.

Winsor. [Emphatically] No.

     De Levis turns and goes out on to the balcony.

Inspector.  If you’re coming in to the racing to-morrow, sir, you might give us a call.  I’ll have seen Kentman by then.

Winsor.  Right you are, Inspector.  Good night, and many thanks.

Inspector.  You’re welcome, sir. [He goes out.]

Winsor.  Gosh!  I thought that chap [With a nod towards the balcony] was going to—!  Look here, General, we must stop his tongue.  Imagine it going the rounds.  They may never find the real thief, you know.  It’s the very devil for Dancy.

Canynge.  Winsor!  Dancy’s sleeve was damp.

Winsor.  How d’you mean?

Canynge.  Quite damp.  It’s been raining.

     The two look at each other.

Winsor.  I—­I don’t follow—­ [His voice is hesitative and lower, showing that he does].

Canynge.  It was coming down hard; a minute out in it would have been enough—­[He motions with his chin towards the balcony].

Winsor. [Hastily] He must have been out on his balcony since.

Canynge.  It stopped before I came up, half an hour ago.

Winsor.  He’s been leaning on the wet stone, then.

Canynge.  With the outside of the upper part of the arm?

Winsor.  Against the wall, perhaps.  There may be a dozen explanations. [Very low and with great concentration] I entirely and absolutely refuse to believe anything of the sort against Ronald Dancy in my house.  Dash it, General, we must do as we’d be done by.  It hits us all—­it hits us all.  The thing’s intolerable.

Canynge.  I agree.  Intolerable. [Raising his voice] Mr De Levis!

De Levis returns into view, in the centre of the open window.

Canynge. [With cold decision] Young Dancy was an officer and is a gentleman; this insinuation is pure supposition, and you must not make it.  Do you understand me?