The maid looked her surprise. She was not used to being spoken to like that.
“Mr. Collins and Sir Ronald have gone out for a run in his car, sir,” she replied stiffly. “Sir Ronald left a message that they might not be back for some time.”
“Why didn’t you come and tell us, Mary?” said Mabel quietly. She also resented Sinclair’s interference.
“He said it would do later on as you were busy, Miss,” and she looked surprised.
Allery was quick to notice it, and said:—
“All right, Mary, thank you. That’s quite all right.”
The maid went out. Sinclair’s face was ashy. He buried his face in his hands.
“What’s the matter, man?” said Allery sternly.
“Matter, he’s gone to his death,” said Sinclair.
For a moment there was a silence tense and vital. It seemed as though the horror of these weeks had come into the room in a living form. Powers of evil gathered round.