There was a hush for nearly a minute after he had left the room. The presence of death, even in its coldest and most legal form, seemed to cause an air of solemnity. It was broken at length by the arrival of Flossie, splendidly attired in magenta and green.
'Why, here you all are! she said with genuine delight. 'And Mr Pennyfeather, too, to be sure! Quite a little party!
She had said the right thing. The word 'party' seemed to strike a responsive note in Dr Fagan.
'Let us go down to supper, he said. 'I'm sure we all have a great deal to be thankful for.
* * *
After supper Dr Fagan made a little speech. 'I think this an important evening for most of us, he said, 'most of all for my dear friend and sometime colleague Paul Pennyfeather, in whose death to‑night we are all to some extent participants. For myself as well as for him it is the beginning of a new phase of life. Frankly, this nursing-home has not been a success. A time must come to every man when he begins to doubt his vocation. You may think me almost an old man, but I do not feel too old to start lightheartedly on a new manner of life. This evening's events have made this possible for me. I think, he said, glancing at his daughters, 'that it is time I was alone. But this is not the hour to review the plans of my future. When you get to my age, if you have been at all observant of the people you have met and the accidents which have happened to you, you cannot help being struck with an amazing cohesiveness of events. How promiscuously we who are here this evening have been thrown together! How enduring and endearing the memories that from now onwards will unite us! I think we should drink a toast ‑ to Fortune, a much‑maligned lady.
Once before Paul had drunk the same toast. This time there was no calamity. They drank silently, and Alastair rose from the table.
'It's time Paul and I were going, he said.
They walked down to the beach together. A boat was waiting for them.
'That's Margot's yacht, said Alastair. 'It's to take you to her house at Corfu until you've decided about things. Good‑bye. Good luck!