A. E. W. Mason

“ A silence followed in which person after person looked at Stella's empty place as though an intensity of gaze would materialise her there. Miranda was the first bravely to break through it.
"She hasn't come down yet," she said, and Millie Splay seized upon the words.
"No, she never comes down for breakfast—never has all this week."
"Yes, that's true," returned Dennis Brown with an attempt at cheerfulness.
"Besides—what makes—the idea—impossible," said Sir Chichester, "is the publication this morning. There wouldn't have been time.... It's clearly an atrocious piece of malice." ”

“ Sir Chichester seized upon the point. "That's the really damnable point about it. That's real malice. This report will linger and live long after the denial and apology are published."
Lady Splay raised her head.
"I can't imagine who can have sent in such a cowardly lie. Enemies of us? Or enemies of Stella?"
"We can think that out afterwards, Lady Splay," said Harold Jupp. He was of a practical matter-of-fact mind and every one turned to listen to his suggestion. "The first thing to do is to get the report contradicted in the evening papers." ”

“ But he collapsed suddenly and once more discomfort and silence reigned in the room.
"Stella's not well," Millie Splay took up the tale. "That's why she is seldom seen before twelve. Those headaches of hers——" and suddenly she in her turn broke off. She leaned forward and pressed the electric bell upon the tablecloth beside her. That small trivial action brought its relief, lightened the vague cloud of misgiving which since Luttrell had spoken, had settled upon all.
"You rang, my lady," said Harper in the doorway.
"Yes, Harper. ”

“ Croyle will join us. Can you find out from her maid whether she is awake?"
It was superbly done. There was not a quaver in Lady Splay's voice, not a sign of agitation in her manner.
"I'll inquire, my lady," replied Harper, and he left the room upon his errand.
"One thing is certain," Mr. Albany Todd broke in. "I was watching Harper over your shoulder, Lady Splay. He hasn't seen the paragraph. There's nothing known of it in the servants' hall."
Sir Chichester nodded, and Millie Splay observed:
"Harper's so imperturbable that he always inspires me with confidence. ”

“ There is nothing more that we can do until he comes." He stood for a little while by the table in the hall, staring down at it, and taking particular note of its grain.
"A curious thing," he said. "The key of her room is missing altogether."
To no one did it come at this moment that the disappearance of the key was to prove a point of vast importance. No one made any comment, and Sir Chichester fell to silence again. "She looked like a child sleeping," he said at length, "a child without a care."
Then he sat down and took the newspaper from his pocket. Mr. ”

“ I feel that nothing out of the way could really happen whilst he was in the house." And her attitude of tension did greatly relax as she thought, illogically enough, of that stolid butler. A suggestion made by Martin Hillyard set them to work whilst they waited. ”