Cold, suffocating darkness in the hall, and the comforting impassive bulk of old Jardine.
Later, a square of corpse-coloured light, and the black marble steps making a row of ebony mirrors for the waning moon. Beyond them, the blurred lines of Ferlie's Daimler, heralding escape to the dainty simplicity of the lavender-scented garden and rooms sweet with the pot-pourri of clean sane memories.
Finding her voice, she turned fiercely upon the man supporting her trembling descent.
"And you knew—and remained silent, while she was facing That!"
His slow gesture was controlled but unyielding.
"For forty years, Madam, I have served the Greville-Mainwarings. As their like dies out so does my like die out which has learnt the lesson of silence."
He closed the door of the car upon her, adding with cold dignity,
"Her ladyship chose to become a Greville-Mainwaring."