‘But what sort of mind,’ Troy wondered, ‘could picture with equanimity, even with pleasure, these manipulations upon the body from which it must some day, perhaps soon, be parted?’ And she wondered if Sir Henry Ancred had read this book and if he had no imagination or too much. ‘And why,’ she thought, ‘do I go on reading this horrid little book?’

She heard a voice in the hall, and with an illogical feeling of guilt hurriedly closed the book and the glass lid. Millamant came in, wearing a tidy but nondescript evening dress.

‘I’ve been exploring,’ Troy said.

‘Exploring?’ Millamant repeated with her vague laugh.

‘That grisly little book in the case. I can’t resist a book and I’m afraid I opened the case. I do hope it’s allowed.’

‘Oh,’ said Millamant. ‘Yes, of course.’ She glanced at the case. ‘What book is it?’

‘It’s about embalming, of all things. It’s very old. I should think it might be rather valuable.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Millamant, ‘that’s why Miss Orrincourt was so interested in it.’

She moved to the fireplace, looking smugly resentful.

‘Miss Orrincourt?’ Troy repeated.

‘I found her reading a small book when I came in the other day. She put it in the case and dropped the lid. Such a bang! It’s a wonder it didn’t break, really. I suppose it must have been that book, mustn’t it?’

‘Yes,’ said Troy, hurriedly rearranging her already chaotic ideas of Miss Sonia Orrincourt. ‘I suppose it must.’

‘Papa,’ said Millamant, ‘is not quite at his best this evening but he’s coming down. On his bad days he dines in his own rooms.’

‘I hope,’ said Troy, ‘that the sittings won’t tire him too much.’

‘Well, he’s so looking forward to them that I’m sure he’ll try to keep them up. He’s really been much better lately, only sometimes,’ said Millamant ambiguously, ‘he gets a little upset. He’s very highly strung and sensitive, you know I always think that all the Ancreds are like that. Except Thomas. My poor Cedric, unfortunately, has inherited their temperament.’

Troy had nothing to say to this, and was relieved when Paul Kentish and his mother came in, followed in a moment by Fenella. Barker brought a tray with sherry. Presently an extraordinarily ominous gong sounded in the hall.

‘Did anyone see Cedric?’ asked his mother. ‘I do hope he’s not going to be late.’

‘He was still in his bath when I tried to get in ten minutes ago,’ said Paul.

‘Oh, dear,’ said Millamant.

Miss Orrincourt, amazingly dressed, and looking at once sulky, triumphant and defiant, drifted into the room. Troy heard a stifled exclamation behind her, and turned to see the assembled Ancreds with their gaze riveted to Miss Orrincourt’s bosom.

It was adorned with a large diamond star.

‘Milly,’ Pauline muttered.

‘Do you see what I see?’ Millamant replied with a faint hiss.