Oh! Never mind—I'll whisper to them now. [She whispers hurriedly to Dinah, Gwendoline, and Ermyntrude.]

QUECKETT.

[To himself.] didn't understand they were for the girls. [He goes to the head of the table as Rankling, Mallory, and Saunders come suddenly together, each carrying a note.]

RANKLING.

[To Mallory.] Mallory, we were right—there is some horrible mystery about Queckett. [Looking to see they are not observed.] I've had an anonymous warning. "For heaven's sake, don't touch the pud—pudding."

MALLORY.

I know.

RANKLING.

Tell the boy. [To Saunders.]

MALLORY.