Admaston turned sharply to the peer.
"What, Ellerdine?" he said. "Has your dispatch-box got on the wrong train, too? What a chapter of accidents!"
Again there was a horrible silence in the place.
It was broken by a sudden, loud cry.
Peggy had entered from her room, and had seen them all standing there—like figures in a tableau in the big hall at Madame Tussaud's.
"George!" she cried.
At that moment there was a singular change of poise among the tense, strained people who were there.
Lady Attwill, radiant and beautiful, strolled up to the piano.
Admaston remained where he was. Collingwood bent forward, almost in the attitude of a man about to spring.
"Well, Peggy. Going out?" Admaston asked.