“It’s my aunt, Alleyn,” explained Lord Charles apologetically. “Lady Katherine Lobe. She was here this afternoon but I’m afraid this terrible business put her out of our minds. She was with my wife just before it happened. I suppose she must have slipped away without realizing — I quite forgot to say anything about her. I’m so sorry. Shall we ring her up?”
“I think it might be as well,” said Alleyn. “Her name is Lady Katherine Lobe did you say?”
“Yes. Why?”
“The commissionaire saw her leave a few minutes before the accident was discovered.”
“Well,” said Lord Charles, “I call it very odd to go off like that without a word. I hope to heaven that nothing was the matter with her. We’d better ring her up. Frid, darling, will you?”
“Am I to tell her to come trundling in from Hammersmith?‘’
“I’ll send the car,” said Lord Charles. “Tell her I’ll send the car, Frid, and then you’d better ring up Mayling. Mayling’s my chauffeur, Alleyn. He wasn’t here this afternoon so I imagine—”
“That will do admirably.”
Frid knelt on a chair beside the desk and dialled a number.
“Aunt Kit,” said Henry, “is almost quite deaf and not very bright. Shall I go and fetch my mother?”