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thought of him as stodgy; surely he would be reliable.
    â€œTim!” Her voice cut through the growing clamour of questions. “Timothy, will you look after the key?”
    â€œI think you should keep it, Daisy.”
    â€œOh no! People will say I’m taking altogether too much upon myself, and rightly so. I’m not family, after all.”
    â€œPrecisely.”
    â€œNo!” Did he not realize that his great-aunt’s prying extended far beyond her family? As soon as the local police heard about Lady
Eva’s proclivity, Daisy was going to be as much a suspect as anyone else. “Oh, here’s Baines. I’ll give the key to him.”
    The butler surveyed the scene with unmistakable disapproval. He himself, not expecting to be on public display at this hour of the morning, was in his shirtsleeves and baize apron. The head housemaid was seated on the floor, surrounded by a gabbling crowd of ladies and gentlemen who ought to know better.
    â€œThe key, madam?” he enquired austerely.
    â€œTo Lady Eva’s room.” Daisy handed it to him. “Didn’t the maid tell you?”
    â€œI gathered through the girl’s hysterics, madam, that something untoward had occurred. As you see, I came with all due haste.”
    â€œGood for you. Lady Eva has been … has met with an accident. I’m going to telephone the police but until they come the room must remain undisturbed.”
    â€œThe police, madam!” Baines was aghast.
    â€œYes, and I’d better ring up the local doctor, too, though I’m afraid it’s too late for his help. What’s his name?”
    â€œDr. Arbuthnot, madam.”
    â€œYou understand that absolutely no one is to go in?”
    â€œIndeed, madam.” The butler pocketed the key. “I’ll send a footman to stand at the door.”
    â€œGood idea.” With one last glance around the assembled relatives, Daisy fled. Let the Reverend Timothy deal with them. Perhaps she ought to stay and watch the effect on them and on later arrivals on the scene, but the local police were unlikely to be interested in her impressions. How she wished Alec had come with her!
    Not till she reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped onto the cold marble floor of the hall did she realize that she was still barefoot. She hesitated, then went on to the library, where she knew there was a telephone.
    To her surprise, she found John Walsdorf there, already fully
dressed at this early hour and busy at his desk at the far end of the long room. He stared at her in astonishment and dismay, not unnaturally, considering her half-clad, dishevelled state. Slipping the paper he had been writing on under the blotter, he rose courteously, and said, “Good morning, Mrs. Fletcher. You wish a novel to read? May I be of assistance?”
    â€œNo, thanks. Sorry to disturb you but something dreadful’s happened and I have to ring the police.”
    â€œThe police! This is not for a lady to do.” As he spoke, Walsdorf moved a chair to the desk for her. “Tell me what is to be reported and I will telephone.”
    â€œWill you really?” Daisy dropped into the chair. “I’d far rather not.”
    â€œIf there is urgency, I must warn you, the village is nearly two miles distant and Constable Fritch bicycles very slowly.”
    â€œThen we had better get in touch with the Cambridgeshire police directly.” What Daisy really wanted was a good excuse to ’phone Scotland Yard and talk to Alec. None came to mind. “It’s murder.”
    â€œMurder!” Paling, Walsdorf hesitated as if afraid to ask. “Who … ?”
    â€œLady Eva.”
    A flicker of relief crossed his face. Daisy wondered whether he had something discreditable in his past—or present—that Lady Eva might have discovered.
    â€œHow?” He picked up the telephone.
    â€œStrangulation.”
    For a moment his command of English