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Seb fell on one knee in front of the painting, looked up at Sam and said, “Samantha Ethel Sullivan, I adore you, and alill, andon earth I want you to be my wife”

Sa dohispered, “Get up, you idiot Everyone’s staring at us”

“Not until you’ve answered my question”

A ss and aiting for her reply

“Of course I’ll otrather puzzled, tried to translate her words

Seb stood up, took out a small red leather box from his jacket pocket, and presented it to her When Sam opened the box and saw the exquisite blue sapphire surrounded by a cluster of little diamonds, she was for once lost for words

Seb took out the ring and placed it on the third finger of her left hand When he leant forward to kiss his fiancée, he was greeted with a round of applause As they walked away, hand in hand, Saht to tell him

12

“MAY I ASK what ti, sir?”

“It must have been around six o’clock, inspector,” said Sloane

“And what time was your appointment with Mr Hardcastle?”

“Five We always o over ures”

“And when you left hiood spirits?”

“Never better,” said Sloane “My monthly results were up by two point two percent, and I was able to tell hi on that he became very excited about”

“It’s just that the pathologist has put the ti, so you must have been the last person to see him alive”