“Anything else?”
“No. I don’t think anybody said anything.”
“And yet,” said Alleyn, “you must have all been feeling most elated.”
“We — yes. Yes, of course, we were.”
“Everything all right again. Lord Wutherwood had promised to see you out of the wood. Crisis averted.”
“Yes. Oh, rather. It was wonderful,” said Henry.
“And yet you all sat there saying nothing except to ask if the benefactor was out of the way. Your younger sister tells me that she and Lady Friede, who went into Flat 26 at this stage of the proceedings, also had nothing to say. A curious reaction.”
“Perhaps our hearts,” said Henry, recovering his poise, “were too full for words.”
“Perhaps they were,” said Alleyn. “I think that’s all. Thank you so much.”
Looking rather startled, Henry got up and moved to the door. Here he paused and after a moment’s hesitation returned to Alleyn.