When Yootha awoke next morning, her head was aching badly. She had only a confused recollection of the events of the previous night, and the more she tried to remember exactly what had happened, the greater the tangle became.
Her blinds were down and the room was still almost in darkness, as she had not yet been called. For about an hour she remained in a sort of disturbed half-sleep; then gradually she began to wonder what the time could be. Through the open windows the sound of traffic came to her, which made her think it must be late. She turned to look at her watch. It had stopped at four in the morning.
She felt under her pillow for the electric bell push, and some minutes later one of the hotel maids entered.
“What time is it?” Yootha asked.
“Close on one o’clock, miss.”
“One o’clock! But why was I not called? Why was my cup of tea not brought?”
“I will inquire, miss,” and the maid left the room, closing the door behind her.
Soon she returned. She said that before Mrs. Mervyn-Robertson had left she had said that Miss Hagerston was very tired and must not be disturbed.
“How do you mean, before she left?” Yootha inquired. “Where has she gone?”
“I have no idea, miss. She left the hotel this morning with her maid, and the two gentlemen who were with her have gone too.”