"I am not. To put it plainly, someone stuck a knife in his back."
Valerie gave a scream, and clutched at the nearest support, which happened to be Roydon's arm. He paid no heed to her, but stood staring at Stephen, with his jaw dropping.
Mottisfont said in an angry, querulous tone: "I don't believe it! This is one of your mistaken ideas of humour, Stephen, and I don't like it!"
Maud's hands were still clasped in her lap. She sat still, a plump, upright little figure, with a rigid back. Her pale eyes studied Stephen, travelled on to Mottisfont, to Roydon, to Valerie, and sank again.
"It's true?" Mathilda said stupidly.
"Unfortunately for us, quite true."
"You mean he's been murdered," said Roydon, as though the words stuck in his throat.
"Oh no! I can't bear it!" Valerie whimpered. "It's too ghastly!"
Mottisfont passed a hand across his mouth. He asked in a voice which he tried hard to keep level: "Who did it?"
"I've no idea," Stephen replied. He took a cigarette from the box on the table, and lit it. "Interesting problem, isn't it?" he drawled.