"I detest Sturry!" Mathilda said.
"Yes, so do L If I get out of this imbroglio, I shall sack him. I caught him with his ear to the keyhole yesterday, when Uncle was favouring us with his opinion of Roydon's play. He won't forgive that in a hurry."
"I've always thought he was the sort who'd stab you in -" She broke off short, colour flooding her face.
"Go on!" he encouraged her. "Why not say it? My withers will be wholly unwrung."
She shook her head. "Can't. It's too grim. I suppose Sturry gave the Inspector a garbled account of what Nat said to you."
"Not much need to garble it. Uncle said he wouldn't have me in the house again."
"We all know he didn't mean it!"
"You try telling that to Inspector Hemingway. I think I'm for it, Mathilda."
She said, with sudden, irrational fury: "It's a judgment on you for being such a silly, damned fool! Why the hell do you have to quarrel with everyone?"
He did not reply, for the footman came in just then, in answer to the bell. He gave a brief order for tea to be brought to them, and for a moment or two after the man had gone away stood staring down into the fire.