"Well, it's all pretty grim," said Dinah.
"I was afraid perhaps it might be. Arthur had such an irreligious face in church. Has he disowned poor Geoffrey yet?"
"I think he's doing it now," replied Dinah, with a glance down the long hall to the study door, from behind which came the sound of a loud voice booming and roaring.
There was a slight pause. "I see," said Mrs. Twining thoughtfully. "Do you know, I think I will come and have a little chat with Arthur."
"Do you think you can do anything with him?" asked Dinah hopefully. "Fay quite definitely can't."
"I have no idea," said Mrs. Twining. "I think I have a little — a very little — influence over him. Tell Fay that I will look in at lunch-time. Good-bye, my dear."
Dinah put the receiver down as Finch came into the hall through the door that led to the servants' wing. "Mrs. Twining will be here for lunch," she said. "I think perhaps I'd better do the flowers for Lady Billington-Smith. What is the time, Finch?"
The butler stepped back to get a view of the grandfather clock. "It is just on the quarter, miss. To be exact, I should say it is sixteen minutes to ten, since I believe we are a little fast."
"We should be," murmured Dinah. "Has Captain Billington-Smith gone, do you know?"
"No, miss. Captain Billington-Smith was with Sir Arthur until twenty minutes past nine, and has, I believe, gone up to his room."