In the garden, close to the window of Guido's sitting-room, Shapiro had been waiting for Crantor, a mile or so away, to touch the high tension wires with the insulated pole he had with him.

Sweat ran down Shapiro's face as he waited. In his right hand he held the broad-bladed knife. Then suddenly he saw the lights that gleamed faintly through the curtains go out. He hooked his fingers under the window frame and pushed it up, then stepped back and waited.

The light breeze moved the curtains. He waited for perhaps ten or twenty seconds, then suddenly the curtains were pulled aside.

A tall man in evening dress stood before the open window as Crantor had said he would stand. The dim light of the cloud-covered moon fell directly on his white shirt front.

Shapiro raised the knife and his hand shot forward, sending the knife flying through the air. It was the easiest target he had ever had to aim at.

He heard the knife thud home, saw the fair man reel back, then he turned and ran around the side of the house to where he had left his car.

As he bolted into the darkness and as Don began a reckless dash down the stairs, Julia screamed again.

Chapter III

Venetian red

The big, beefy figure of Inspector Horrocks came into Guido's study where Don had been sitting for the past half-hour, a cigarette burning heedlessly between his fingers.

"Now, sir," Horrocks said, closing the door, "perhaps we can take this a bit further."

"Yes," Don said, woodenly. He was still badly shaken by Guido's death and he would have preferred to have been left alone.

"It would help if you went over the whole story again, sir," Horrocks said, coming over to the fire, and lowering his bulk into a chair opposite the one Don was sitting in.

"Yes, of course," Don said. He went on to give the Inspector a detailed account of how he had met Julia, of the threatening letter and how he had come down to act as Guido's bodyguard. "I just didn't take the thing seriously," he went on, staring into the fire. "I feel responsible for his death. It wasn't until I found the telephone had been tampered with that I thought it possible we might be in for trouble. Even then it didn't occur to me it would happen so quickly. I thought Guido would be safe with Dixon and me to guard him. I left my chauffeur outside to watch the house."

"Where's he jot to, then?" Horrocks asked.

"I don't know. I've been out to look for him, but there's no sign of him. I'm hoping he saw the killer and is after him."

Horrocks grunted.

"Is that likely?"

"I think it is. I'm anxious to get home, Inspector, in case he is trying to contact me."

"I won't keep you much longer, sir," Horrocks said. "I'd like to clear up one or two points. You didn't see the killer yourself?"

"No. I left Dixon with Mr Ferenci and I went upstairs to search the house. Then the lights went out and I heard Julia-Mrs Ferenci - scream. I belted down the stairs and rushed into the lounge. It was pitch dark in there. I had told Dixon I'd call out as I came in, but I forgot to do so. He took me for an intruder and closed with me. We had quite a scrap, and I had to knock him silly before I could get free of him. By thetime I had found a flashlight, the killer had gone. I found Mr Ferenci lying before the open window. Mrs Ferenci had fainted. Then two patrolmen came in. You know the rest of it."

Horrocks nodded.

"The killer somehow fused the lights, then opened the window. Mr Ferenci either felt the draught or else heard the window open. He went to the window. The killer was ready for him. As Mr Ferenci pulled back the curtains, the killer threw the knife."

"How was it your men arrived like that? Did they hear Mrs Ferenci's screams?"

"It was the messenger boy. When he left here, a man came out of the darkness and struck at him with a club. The boy was too quick for him and bolted. The man went after him, but the boy got away. The attack was so quick, the boy didn't get much of a chance to see the man. All he can tell us is that he is tall and slimly built. As soon as the boy got clear, he dialled 999. One of our cars picked him up and brought him here. They arrived just too late." Don rubbed his forehead.

"Have you got anything from Dixon? Did he see anything?" Horrocks shook his head.

"I'm going to talk to him now. He's still groggy from the punch you gave him."

Don moved irritably.

"It was entirely my fault," he said angrily. "I told him I would call out when I returned. Naturally he went for me: he was like a wild cat."

A constable came in.

"Beg pardon, sir. There's a lady asking for Mr Micklem." "That'll be my secretary. I asked one of your men to telephone her. I want her to take care of Mrs Ferenci," Don said, getting to his feet.

"All right, sir. While you talk to her, I'll see how Dixon is getting on," Horrocks said.

Don found Marian in the hall.

"This is a frightful business," he said, going to her. "Poor Guido's been murdered. Julia's in a bad way. The maid's with her now, but