It was getting dark in the room.
“I think,” said the aunt, “we might have a light, my dear?”
“Certainly,” said Mabel. “John, turn on the electric light.”
At that moment a last ray, almost blood-red, came from the dying sun through the window, and shone full on the portrait over the fire-place. Collins was idly looking at it, when his face suddenly became rigid and fixed. An intent look came into his eyes, and he stared hard at the portrait. Then the brilliant light came on. At that moment he felt rather than saw that Mabel was watching him. He turned to her and she looked down in confusion, and a red pervaded her face. They both recovered and their eyes met. He read in them a certain uneasiness or dread.
Instantly he composed his features and said, “That’s better, but the sunset was very beautiful.”
“We’ve missed the first News bulletin,” said Allery, “but we must get the second. I always feel lost in the country when there’s no wireless. Miss Watson has a splendid receiving set.”
While conversation was general Collins leant over to Allery.
“Better not say too much about the news,” he said. “There will be something about the murder, certain to be, and it may distress her.”
“Perhaps you are right, but as a matter of fact, she has been much more cheerful since she heard that they had got the man.”
The receiving set was in the old oak-pannelled hall in a neat cabinet. The company foregathered here at ten o’clock for the news. Eric was the operator. After the hundred and fortieth chess move between two Scotsmen, and the usual dismal forecast of the weather, an account was given of the preliminary examination of Jackson, who was being kept under observation by Home Office doctors. Two facts emerged, that the Home Office was satisfied in a guarded way that he was the man, with plenty of the cautious word ‘alleged,’ and that he was hopelessly mad. Collins smiled as he listened. He had seated himself on a cushion in the shadow where he could watch Mabel’s expressive face. He saw a look of relief, and something more, a puzzled look on her face.