"He had nothing to do with it!" Paula said.
"How do you know?"jeered Stephen.
She stared at him. "Well, I don't know," she said slowly. "I don't know who did it."
"I should like to think that someone quite unconnected with any of us was the guilty man," said Joseph. "May we not assume that, children, and try not to say bitter, hurtful things to one another?"
The only person to respond to this appeal was Mathilda, who said handsomely that he at least could not be accused of this vice. He threw her a grateful smile, but shook his head, saying that he was afraid he was a very imperfect mortal.
"As though I hadn't had enough to put me off my food already!" growled Stephen.
Valerie, who had been fidgeting with her coffeespoon, let it fall into the saucer, and exclaimed: "I wonder it doesn't make you sick to think of eating any doing! I think you're the most callous person I've ever met in all my life!"
"I shouldn't be surprised," agreed Stephen.
"And if the police want to question me, it's no earthly use, because I don't know a thing about it, and my nerves just won't stand it! I feel as though I'm going mad!"
"Oh, do shut up!" said Paula.