At the same moment the studio-bell echoed with considerable violence throughout the house.
"What can any one want this time of night?" cried Fan, in some agitation.
"They must have pulled the wrong bell," said Lucy; "but one of us had better go down and see."
Gertrude lighted a candle, and went downstairs, and the rest proceeded rather silently with their meal.
In about five minutes Gertrude re-appeared with a grave face.
"Well?"
They all questioned her, with lips and eyes.
"Some one has been here about work," she said, slowly; "but it's rather a dismal sort of job. It is to photograph a dead person."
"Gerty, what do you mean?"