“Mr. Lucas” was Lord Holme’s valet.
It seemed to Lady Holme as if there were a significant, even a slightly mocking, sound in the footman’s voice. She stared at him. He was a thin, swarthy young man, with lantern jaws and a very long, pale chin. When she looked at him he dropped his eyes.
“Bring me some lemonade to the drawing-room in ten minutes,” she said.
“Yes, my lady.”
“In ten minutes, not before. Turn on all the lights in the drawing-room.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The man went before her up the staircase, turned on the lights, stood aside to let her pass and then went softly down. Lady Holme rang for Josephine.
“Take my cloak and then go to bed,” she said.
Josephine took the cloak and went out, shutting the door.
“Ten minutes!” Lady Holme said to herself.