‘And if the police want to question me, it’s no earthly use, because I don’t know a thing about it, and my nerves just won’t stand it! I feel as though I’m going mad!’

‘Oh, do shut up!’ said Paula.

‘I won’t shut up! I didn’t come here to be insulted, and I don’t see why I should be expected to put up with it!’

‘Leave her alone, Paula,’ ordered Stephen, getting up, and walking over to the sideboard, where some chocolate mousse had been left for him.

‘I’m not doing anything to her. If she doesn’t like my behaviour she can leave the room, can’t she?’ said Paula, becoming belligerent.

‘I wish I could leave the house!’ cried Valerie.

‘I believe it is still snowing,’ remarked Maud, as unperturbed by this bickering as by all the other events of the day.

‘I don’t care! I’d rather walk all the way to London than stay here now!’

‘It’s an engaging thought,’ said Stephen. ‘Orphan of the Storm.’

‘Oh, you can laugh at me! but if you think I could possibly sleep a wink here you’re mistaken! I simply shan’t dare to close my eyes all night. I shall be petrified!’

‘Well, really, I don’t think that’s very sensible,’ objected Mathilda. ‘What do you suppose is going to happen to you?’

‘You wouldn’t understand,’ said Valerie, adding in a lofty tone: ‘I expect you’re one of those lucky people who just haven’t got any nerves, and don’t feel a thing. But the thought of Mr Herriard, lying there in that room – Oh, I simply can’t bear it!’

‘You won’t have to,’ said Stephen. ‘The body will be removed to the police-mortuary. Probably has been by this time.’

This brutal truth made Joseph wince. He said: ‘Stephen, Stephen!’ in an imploring voice.

‘I think,’ said Maud, getting up, ‘that I shall go and sit in the drawing-room with my book.’

Joseph glanced at her with humorous affection. ‘Yes, my dear, do that!’ he said. ‘Try to put it all out of your mind! How I wish that I could do the same! But I am afraid the Inspector will want to see you.’

‘Oh yes!’ she said, uninterested.

‘There is nothing to be afraid of, you know. He is quite human.’

‘I am not afraid, thank you, Joseph,’ she replied placidly.

Paula barely waited until she had left the room before ejaculating: ‘If I’ve got to listen to extracts from that ghastly book on top of everything else, I think my nerve will crack!’

‘Keep calm, sister: Aunt has lost the book.’

‘Stephen!’ exclaimed Joseph. ‘No, that’s too bad of you! If you’ve hidden it, you must give it back to her at once.’

‘I haven’t touched it,’ said Stephen curtly.

Neither Mathilda nor Paula believed this, but as Joseph showed signs of pressing the point, they intervened to prevent an explosion. Mathilda said that no doubt it would turn up; and Paula wondered how Roydon was getting on with the Inspector.