"I'll inquire, my lady," replied Harper, and he left the room upon his errand.
"One thing is certain," Mr. Albany Todd broke in. "I was watching Harper over your shoulder, Lady Splay. He hasn't seen the paragraph. There's nothing known of it in the servants' hall."
Sir Chichester nodded, and Millie Splay observed:
"Harper's so imperturbable that he always inspires me with confidence. I feel that nothing out of the way could really happen whilst he was in the house." And her attitude of tension did greatly relax as she thought, illogically enough, of that stolid butler. A suggestion made by Martin Hillyard set them to work whilst they waited.
"Let us see if the report is in any of the other papers," and all immediately were busy with that examination—except one again. And that one again, Harry Luttrell. He sat in his place motionless, his eyes transfixed upon some vision of horror—as if he knew, Martin said to himself, yes, as if all these questions were futile, as if he knew.
But no other newspaper had printed the paragraph. They had hardly assured themselves of this fact, when Harper once more stood in the doorway.
"Mrs. Croyle gave orders last night to her maid that she was not to be disturbed until she rang, my lady," he said.
"And she has not rung?" Millie asked.
"No, my lady."
Miranda suddenly laughed in an odd fashion and swayed in her chair.