" You went down to the theatre to meet Ellam , and that puts you right there , on the scene of the crime .sx " He smiled at her , and she saw his smile , and her eyes filled with horror .sx " No !sx It wasn't like that .sx I didn't go to the theatre- I can prove it .sx " She was really frightened now , as she hadn't been before .sx " I knew Roger was going to meet Susan , because I'd met her myself that same morning , and she told me all about it .sx " " Didn't that make you wild ?sx " " No , because Roger had often spoken to me about marrying her .sx " " For her money ?sx " She drooped her head and looked at the wine glass , turning it round in her fingers and letting it reflect the light .sx She said :sx " I wasn't wild , just miserable .sx I felt sort of helpless and perhaps a little jealous .sx I decided to go for a walk to shake the feeling off .sx I passed the end of the theatre drive , but I swear I didn't go in .sx Roger was waiting there .sx He told me about his date with Susan , that everything depended on it , and told me to keep away from the theatre .sx " " He didn't say why ?sx " " He just said it was dangerous , and might ruin everything .sx " She broke suddenly , and kept repeating that she didn't go inside the theatre , in a sort of moaning voice .sx We left without another word .sx At the door I looked back .sx She was still playing with the wine glass and staring at the hearth .sx Somebody should have painted her , just like that .sx Chapter Twenty-Six .sx THE THEATRE building looked just as square and just as plain as the first time , and the same shadows from trees swayed over the brickwork like curious fingers .sx There was the same spring scent of earth and woods , and the same feeling of remoteness , though one or two people were about .sx A few boys drifted up the drive , the little ones frisky and excited , the big ones with a certain condescending tolerance .sx And the sight of them had the same effect on Shale it always had- a kind of cynical contempt for the system that moulded them .sx Lights were on inside the theatre , and the windows curtained , but after the warm evening , it was like going into a colder place .sx The hall was about two-thirds full of boys .sx They kept bobbing up in their seats , chewing .sx There was a happy anticipatory drone .sx A prefect ushered us to our seats in the second row , and the school orchestra in front began teetering nervously on their violins .sx An amateurish air hung over the place like a pleasant infection .sx From the cover of my programme , I saw we were in for what is affectionately known as English middle-class comedy .sx I sat down and studied the people in the front row .sx Wylie's head was just to my right , and at close quarters , his little grey waves looked thinner , like flimsy sponges on a pink sea bed .sx His wife was wearing a hat I was glad I wasn't sitting behind .sx She had played a gleam of triumph steadily on Shale as we came up the row to our seats .sx When we sat down , her head snapped round to the front .sx Wylie acknowledged us with a curt nod and a faint drawing in of the eyebrows .sx He was rather subdued .sx It made him more human .sx Miss Teale looked almost soft and yielding , not so prim .sx She had a new defiance , and her eyes wandered round the hall confidently .sx She was wearing her hair long , and it made her look younger .sx Her gaze rested often on Carter , who was sitting with a bright smile next to my uncle .sx He leaned across affably and said in a whisper , " I say , they've been looking for Ellam all evening .sx Apparently he's nowhere to be found .sx Looks pretty mysterious don't you think ?sx " I passed it on to Shale .sx He was reading his programme , and I suddenly felt him nudge me .sx He was pointing out the names of the cast and his finger was half way down the page .sx I read :sx " Laura Thistledown , the manager's secretary .sx . played by William Barlow , =6 A. " He kept his finger there for my benefit and I saw what he meant .sx The Christian name- " Laura" .sx It should have signified something but my mind wouldn't grasp it .sx I gave him a puzzled glance , but he was settled back in his seat , staring at the top of the stage .sx He was sitting like that when the prefect shuffled up the row and whispered in his ear .sx " Willant wants a word with me , " Shale said , and we all went out .sx Heads turned , and there was a polite air of interest in the front row .sx Willant was in the entrance , a study of indecision .sx " Ellam's nowhere to be found , " he said .sx " Nowhere in the school .sx " His fingers strayed to his waistcoat , and he tugged nervously like a man with a tricky point to make that was embarrassing him .sx He said :sx " In view of his behaviour this afternoon , I'm not quite sure what I ought to do .sx " Shale said :sx " You could tell the police .sx " " But as it's only two hours ago since he was here , it might look premature to say he's disappeared .sx He might return .sx After all , he was suffering from- perhaps a nervous breakdown- it might be unwise to draw attention to it- " He stopped , at a loss .sx " It might be better to wait .sx " Ambrose said , with the air of a tactician who'd weighed everything up .sx " You were pretty worried about him a while back , doctor , " Shale said .sx " 'Desperate' I think was the word you used .sx You should tell the police .sx " " No doubt you're right , " Willant said weakly .sx " But first I must start the play , we're late as it is- so many things to think of- " He made for the door in the hall , and stepped back as Forster came the other way .sx Forster was wearing a stage-hand's smock .sx His face was shining , and happier than I'd ever seen it .sx He looked harassed when he saw us , but recovered , and said to Willant :sx " No sign of Mr. Ellam yet , headmaster .sx I really think we ought to start .sx " Willant took off his glasses and rubbed them .sx He gave a sigh .sx " Very well , Mr. Forster .sx I'll just say a few words first .sx " He went in impulsively , glad to get away .sx Forster turned to follow him , but Shale said , " One thing before you go , Mr. Forster .sx The character Laura Thistledown .sx Who was to play her the last time- young Burnage ?sx " Forster nodded , and began to look worried .sx " That was all , " Shale said gently .sx " You can start the revels now .sx " We went back to our seats , and Willant , who'd been talking to Wylie moved to the front of the stage and held up his hands for silence .sx The shuffling died away and he spoke his piece without any trouble .sx He managed to sound informal and light-hearted , like a vicar at a whist drive .sx When he'd finished , he walked down the hall and I saw him go through the door at the back .sx I felt a certain admiration for the way he was keeping going .sx There was some polite applause , then the lights went out except for a glow beneath the curtain , and blobs of light on the orchestra's music stands .sx The overture was brief and chronic .sx Shale lit a cigarette and relaxed , staring at the roof .sx The curtain opened on an amateurish set with a french window looking out on to a cardboard garden .sx It was slow getting underway , and the actors were elocution conscious , but it went down well with the audience .sx There was a lot of laughter , most of it at the expense of the actors , especially Currie playing a middle-aged matron with a large lop-sided bosom .sx The first act lasted some twenty minutes , and in the interval I watched the reactions of the staff .sx Miss Teale's eyes were shining happily .sx Once she flashed me a smile- quite a becoming smile .sx Wylie had unbent a little , and was trying to give the impression of a stern man reflecting that a little nonsense was all right once in a while for boys .sx His wife was telling someone in a loud voice that so-and-so was good , and so-and-so wasn't quite so good .sx Her standards were absolute .sx Carter was frankly in tucks about the whole thing .sx Shale seemed half asleep .sx Once , during the scene , he had watched Miss Teale for a long time , but his eyes had mostly been examining the top of the curtain , as if he were looking beyond , and trying to picture the dust and the gallery and the wooden platform .sx The lights went down again , and I saw Willant come back .sx I wondered if he had informed the police .sx A sudden gasp of hilarious delight made me look at the stage .sx The character Laura Thistledown had made her first entrance .sx She was meant to be pert and pretty , and something of a charmer .sx The boy playing the part wore a slim black costume , a dinky hat , and wobbled slightly on four-inch heels .sx He had a wig of blonde curls , and that made me think of the wig that was still missing , and that made me think of the green costume that was also missing , and I looked at Shale .sx He was sitting forward , watching the play intently .sx I felt a rise of excitement .sx There was some by-play going on on the stage .sx The idea seemed to be that " Laura Thistledown " was vamping the goofy nephew of the local aristocracy- a part played with gusto by a boy having trouble with a pencil-line moustache .sx Suddenly this young blood took the secretary in his arms , and said in an anguish of embarrassment :sx " Oh , Laura !sx You're exactly like the other girl .sx " The audience twittered with delight .sx I felt Shale stiffen and then relax , very slowly .sx He gripped my arm , and began to write something on the back of his programme .sx It couldn't have been easy in the dark , but he wrote quickly .sx On the stage they were still fooling about , and the audience was making happy noises , but I wasn't with them any more .sx Shale spoke in a low voice .sx " Read it outside- three important questions there .sx Go right away in the car , and put them to the servant , Mrs. Olroyd .sx Got it ?sx " I went as quietly as I could , but it seemed to me I made a lot of noise .sx Ambrose looked annoyed as I squeezed past him , but I didn't stop to explain .sx Outside I sat in the car , put a cigarette in my mouth , and read the programme in the falling light .sx It wasn't easy to make out , some of Shale's writing had run across the print , but I finally got it .sx Three questions , that was all .sx Just three questions .sx Put them to a nice old servant who had done her job well until one day she'd been sacked , and you would get three answers .sx You had to get three answers because there could only be three answers and they would make sense of everything .sx I lit the cigarette , and sat there and smelt the scents from the wood , and watched the branches sway in the breeze , and listened to the evening song of a solitary bird , and everything was suddenly clear .sx The green costume and everything .sx I reached for the starter and checked my hand .sx Someone had just come from the theatre .sx I heard steps hurrying down the drive .sx I listened until they crunched away into silence , then I started the car .sx I thought I'd see who it was as I passed , but there was nobody on the drive .sx Whoever it was must have taken to the woods .sx It took me half an hour or so to get there , and she was in with the old lady .sx I put the questions , and she answered them placidly .sx It didn't mean much to her , and I was neither relieved nor excited- I just knew what she would say .sx It was nearly dark when I got back to the Curlew .sx