“No. I’ll go alone. There would be nothing for you to do there. I’ll be back inside an hour.”
BLAKE went out by the side door, after turning on the outside light. Paget and the butler, standing in the doorway, watched him.
Blake disappeared into the darkness of the garage. Paget closed the door and turned to the butler.
“Another drink, Herbert,” he said. “Wait. I’ll come along with you.”
He went into the dining room and talked to the butler while the man prepared the drink. They heard the sound of the sedan as it rolled along the driveway.
Paget continued to talk to Herbert. Several minutes went by. Then Paget entered the library and began to read a book.
There was a certain calm assurance in Paget’s manner as he sat there. Herbert, entering occasionally, saw nothing unusual. Yet Paget was inwardly anxious, waiting expectantly as the minutes ticked by. His only betrayal was in his casual questioning of Herbert.
“Where is the valet?” asked Paget.
“Upstairs, sir,” said the butler.
“The other servants?”