Black As He's Painted

When the exuberant president of Ng'ombwana proposes to dispense with the usual security arrangements on an official visit to London, his old schoolmate, Chief Superintendent Alleyn, is called in to persuade him otherwise. Consequently, on the night of the embassy's reception, the house and grounds are full of police. Nevertheless, an assassin does strike, and Alleyn finds he has no shortage of help, from Special Branch to a trial court, as well as a small black cat named Lucy Lockett who out-detects them all.