"She's got a lousy taste in literature," Stephen explained. "Mathilda, I forbid you to insult my intended."
"You and who else?" retorted Mathilda crudely.
"Children, children!" implored Joseph.
The Inspector cleared his throat. "If you please, ladies! Miss Dean, is it a fact that Mr. Stephen Herriard gave his cigarette-case to you before he went up to change?"
"I tell you I don't know! I simply don't remember! Anyway, I never took it out of the room!"
Maud, who had come into the library behind Paula, said in her flattened voice: "You asked him for a cigarette, dear, and he threw his case over to you."
"You're all against me!" Valerie declared, tears spangling the ends of her lashes.
"No, dear, but it is always better to speak the truth. I have often thought it a pity that girls should smoke so much. It is very bad for the complexion, but I make it a rule never to interfere in what doesn't concern me."
"Let that be a lesson to you!" Paula said to Valerie, quite in Stephen's manner.
The Inspector, possibly feeling that of all the women present Maud was the most rational, turned to her, and asked: "Did you see what Miss Dean did with the case, madam?"