She caught him by the arm.

‘Is Mr. Davies dead?’

‘That’s what they were telling me.’

‘When?’

‘They didn’t say. Not so long ago, I should think.’

She said, ‘The last time I went to the office he was there. That was about two months ago. I’ve known him ever since I could remember. He was good – I’m sure he never did anything wrong in his life.’

He patted her knee.

‘Well, my dear, we all have to go some time. And I haven’t got very long with you – I want to talk. First of all, I want to now where you are and what you are doing, and why there’s any mystery about it.’ He looked at her reproachfully – square shoulders, grey hair cut close to his head, water-blue eyes in a ruddy face. ‘What’s all this about? I don’t like it.’

‘Darling Bunny – ’

‘Hiding yourself away, taking some hole-and-corner kind of a job – what’s it all about? Girl does that sort of thing, it means she’s got something up her sleeve. What have you got up yours?’

‘What do we generally have?’

‘A young man,’ said the Admiral bluntly. ‘You’d better tell me who he is, and I’ll size him up for you.’

‘I have sized him up.’

‘Pack of rubbish! A girl can’t size up a man any more than a man can size up a girl. Set a thief to catch a thief, my dear! I’ll size him up for you!’

He saw her eyes widen with that little smile in them, but she didn’t answer. With quick suspicion he came out with,

‘Is it that fellow Brett?’

‘Oh, no, darling.’

‘Well, I’m glad about that. Something I don’t cotton to there. Very agreeable fellow – very good company. What the women call charming – always been a favourite. A bit too much stuff in the shop window to my way of thinking. I like them a bit plainer.’

‘So do I, darling.’

He patted her hand.

‘Very glad to hear it.’ His voice suddenly took on a definitely quarter-deck note. ‘Then what the blazes did that fellow Cyril mean by telling me you were engaged?’

‘Cyril said I was engaged to Brett?’

‘Or as near as makes no difference. Said it was all very hush-hush. Couldn’t make out why. Because if you’re engaged you’re engaged, and if you’re going to be engaged you’re going to be engaged. Can’t see any reason to go mincing round like a cat on hot bricks, which is what that fellow Cyril was doing. So I thought I’d have a word with you and find out what was going on. Tactfully of course – ’

‘Darling, I do love you when you’re being tactful!’

‘Meaning I’m no good at it. Well, I daresay I’m not. And I daresay you think you can manage your own affairs without my putting my oar in. Women always think so until they go on the rocks. Now you listen to me! If you’ve got a man up that sleeve of yours I’d like to meet him. If he’s any good he’ll want to meet me. I’m not your guardian any longer, but your father was the best shipmate and the best friend I ever had, and if you don’t know by now that I’m a good deal fonder of you than most men are of their daughters, you’re not so intelligent as I’ve always given you credit for being. Now, what about it?’

She looked at him sweetly.

‘Bunny, you’re an angel, and I love you.’

He said gruffly, ‘Fine words butter no parsnips. I said, “What about it?” ’

She took one of his hands and held it tightly in both of hers.

‘This,’ she said. ‘There is someone. I love him – very much. And he loves me – very much too. I can’t tell you any more than that – I can’t really. It’s the most wonderful time of my life, and I don’t want it to be spoiled. I want to have it. I want a little time before I tell people – just a little, you know. And you shall be the very first – I promise you that. And I promise you something else – you’ll be terribly, terribly pleased.’

‘Oh, I will, will I?’

‘Yes, Bunny – and here’s my tube station.’

‘All right, all right.’

He followed her out of the taxi, pulled a handful of money out of his pocket, and added a generous tip to the fare. Then he turned back to Katharine.

‘A deuce of a hurry you’re in.’

‘I’ve got to change and get back to my job.’

‘Can’t see what you want with a job myself. Look here, who’s in the Cedar House?’

‘No one at the moment. I let Aunt Agnes have it because she thought she was going to be at a loose end until March when her tenants go out, but her daughter hasn’t been well and she’s gone over to stay with her in Eire.’

‘So there isn’t anyone there. Then why don’t you go down for a bit? Take one of the old cousins or a friend. Get the place aired and lived in.’

‘Mrs. Perkins airs it regularly, darling. She lives next door, you know, over the corn-chandler’s. She is his wife’s aunt, and she used to be Granny Eversley’s cook, which makes her fairly antique, but she still cooks like a dream.’

‘Then go down and let her cook for you.’

‘Later on perhaps. Darling, I must rush. Write to me care of the bank and they’ll send it on. Blessings! It’s been marvellous seeing you!’

Chapter Ten

Katharine let herself into her flat. She had leave off till three. Miss Cole would look down her nose, but she couldn’t go back to Tattlecombe’s in these clothes. She got into her old tweed suit, removed the forbidden lipstick, bit her lips to induce a natural substitute, looked at the clock, and turned into the living-room.

The telephone was on her writing-table. Standing there ready to go out, she dialled and took up the receiver. A girl’s voice said, ‘Eversleys’.

‘Can I speak to Miss Jones?’

A moment later Mavis Jones on the line:

‘Mr. Eversley’s secretary speaking.’

‘Oh, Miss Jones – it’s Katharine Eversley. Admiral Holden has just told me of Mr. Davies’ death, and I’m so very sorry. It was after I said goodbye to my cousins, so I had no opportunity of asking them about it. When did he die?’

‘Well, let me see – it would be about six weeks ago.’

‘Yes, I saw him the last time I was at the office. He seemed quite well then. What was it?’

‘He was knocked down in the street – not looking where he was going, I’m afraid. They took him to hospital, but he never recovered consciousness.’

Katharine said, ‘I am so very sorry – I didn’t know.’ The receiver felt cold and heavy in her hand. She said, ‘What day was it – when did it happen?’

Miss Jones’ voice sharpened a little.

‘I don’t know that I could say offhand.’

‘It would be very kind of you if you would find out. The date on his ledger would show when he stopped coming – wouldn’t it? I should like to know.’

‘Oh, certainly.’

As she stood waiting, the receiver in her hand became colder and heavier still. She heard Miss Jones go away. She heard her come back. She heard her voice, hard and efficient, with that something which wasn’t quite an accent – a little more noticeable on the telephone than it was when you were with her.

‘The date would be the sixth of December. That was the last time Mr. Davies was at the office.’

Katharine said, ‘Thank you, Miss Jones,’ and rang off.

An hour later she looked up from her painting to say to William Smith,

‘Do you remember the date you went to Eversleys and saw Miss Jones?’

William frowned.

‘It was just before Mr. Tattlecombe had his accident.’

‘Well, when did Mr. Tattlecombe have his accident?’

‘The seventh of December.’

She put down her brush because her hand wasn’t quite steady.

‘When you say just before, what do you mean, William? Do you mean that it was the day before?’

‘Yes, it was.’

‘Are you sure about that?’

‘Yes. Why – does it matter?’

‘I don’t know.’ She picked up her brush again. ‘I just wanted to know.’

William had become absorbed. Only a small portion of his mind had been on what he was saying. Now the whole of it was concentrated upon putting the finishing touches to the first of the Krow models. Should there, or should there not, be a touch of metallic green on the head? Nothing that you could swear to, but just the suggestion of a sheen.