Smithfield looked graver than usual.
"Beg pardon, sir," he said, "but the cook was feeling tired and has gone up to bed, sir."
Crane was just helping himself to sugar.
"She cooked this coffee, didn't she?" he said.
"Yes, sir."
"She can't have been gone very long then."
"About five minutes, sir."
"Go up and tell her to come down," said Crane.
He turned again to Miss Falkener and went on about the past performances of the Irish mare, but it was quite clear to all who heard him that his heart was no longer in the topic.
Smithfield's return was greeted by complete silence.