"Come inside, and shut the door!" commanded Mrs. Dean. "Now, just you drink this glass of water, and stop being silly! I'm not at all surprised that Scotland Yard has been called in. There's nothing for you to worry about. No one thinks you had anything to do with the murder."
"Yes, they do, because of that foul cigarette-case!"
"What cigarette-case?"
"Stephen's. He sort of threw it to me in the drawingroom, and later it was found in Mr. Herriard's bedroom. But I never put it there!"
"Of course you didn't, and the police will realise that just as Mother does. You must just tell them all you know, and stop worrying. Remember, Mother is here to take care of you!"
"I know I shall die if I have to answer any more questions! That policeman yesterday was utterly brutal, and this one's bound to be worse!" said Valerie fatalistically.
JHer bugbear, at this moment, was taking stock of oseph and of Stephen, both of whom had emerged from the billiard-room to receive him. Joseph had a piece of tinsel in his hand, and explained that he was engaged in dismantling the Christmas tree. "We have no heart for it now!" he said.
"You ought to send it to your local hospital," said Hemingway helpfully. "They'd very likely be glad of it."
"There!" cried Joseph. "Why didn't I think of that? It's just what my brother would have wished, too! It shall be done! What say you, Stephen?"
"Do what you like with the damned thing!" said Stephen shortly.