Prince of Secrets by Paula Marshall

goings-on, and here’s Mr Dilley sleeping only a few doors away from where the thief did his dirty work. Would you say that was a coincidence, sir?’
    Cobie was all languid charm. ‘Well, I don’t know what else you would call it, inspector.’
    â€˜Well, I’d call it damned suspicious, Mr Dilley. Been doing some more of your magic tricks, have you? Caused a diamond necklace to disappear, did you?’
    â€˜Now why should I do that? Has no one told you I’ve been a big investor in South African diamonds since I came to England, and could buy myself a dozen diamond necklaces—not so old and historic as Sir Ratcliffe’s, I do admit—so why should I need to steal one?’
    â€˜You tell me, Mr Dilley. And tell me where you were last night.’
    Cobie smiled. ‘In my own dear wife’s bed, of course.’
    â€˜You’re sure of that, sir? From what I’ve been hearing, most of the men at Markendale were in bed with other men’s dear wives. Were you playing musical beds too, sir? Can your wife—or anyone else—vouch that you were with her at the time that the theft was taking place.’
    â€˜Why don’t you ask her, inspector?’
    â€˜Oh, you may be sure I will. She will be the next person I shall interview.’
    Cobie smiled at him, his best artless smile. He said, as languidly as he could, ‘I’d be interested to know why I’m being subjected to this inquisition. I understand that the ladder the thief used was found in place this morning, with other evidence to show that the house had been broken into.’
    â€˜Oh, we have to be sure that no guest, or servant, was involved, Mr Dilley—I mean, Mr Grant—before I spend too much time looking for non-existent burglars coming in from outside. I shall be asking to search the guests’ rooms, if Ithink it necessary. You wouldn’t mind if your rooms were searched, Mr…er…Grant?’
    Cobie’s blue eyes hardened. He saw that the terrier opposite to him would like to have him by the throat. He sighed dramatically. ‘Only if mine were the only ones searched. That would be too partial, inspector. A man has to guard his reputation, you understand.’
    Will Walker did not know what he understood. Only that he knew in his bones that the man opposite to him had stolen the diamonds—and he had no means of proving his belief to be true. ‘I shall interview your wife immediately, Mr Grant, and I want you to be present when I speak to her. I don’t want you claiming that I bullied her into any admissions—you understand me, I’m sure. But not where she can see your face.’
    Inwardly Cobie was amused, but he said solemnly, ‘I would prefer to be present. My wife is young and tender. I wouldn’t like her to be distressed in any way— you understand me , I’m sure.’
    Walker smiled a smile nearly as secret as that of the man before him. ‘Oh, I think we understand one another. Never fear, Mr Whatever-your-name-is, I have a few magic tricks of my own.’
    Dinah was in a quandary. She was sitting in the big drawing room with the other women, waiting to be called in to speak to the Scotland Yard man if he wished to interview them. She had recognised him as the man who had come to Park Lane to question Cobie and who had been so harsh with him.
    This knowledge made her worry over her quandary even more severe. She had left the drawing room early on the evening of the theft. She had been tired and sleep had come soon. Her dreams had, as usual, been of her husband, andafter one disturbing one where they had been together in some danger she had been jerked awake by a noise outside.
    She had put out a hand to touch him—he must have rolled away from her in the night—to discover that he wasn’t there. Puzzled and a little worried, she had picked up her fob watch from the bedside table. It was, she was