“Miss Parr is still in the library, sir.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, sir.” The man preceded him, but before his name had been announced Alison was standing, her book in her hand, gazing at him with startled eyes, his name rising, a low cry, to her lips.
“John!”
He took the book from her, gently, and held her hands.
“Something has happened!” she said. “Tell me—I can bear it.”
He saw instantly that her dread was for him, and it made his task the harder.
“It's your brother, Alison.”
“Preston! What is it? He's done something——”
Hodder shook his head.