Bethlehem Road

with none of the magnetism. 'He's quite right, Garnet.' He put his hand on his sister's arm. 'You'd best go back to bed, my dear. Have your maid make a tisane of this.'' He proffered a small packet of dried herbs. 'I'll come by again in the morning.'

She took the packet. 'Thank you, but you need not neglect your usual patients. I shall be quite well. There will be much to do here: arrangements to make, people to inform, letters and other business to see to. I have no intention of leaving town now. I suppose later-afterwards-I may be glad to go to Aldeburgh. It is considerate of you, Garnet, but now, if there is nothing more . . . ?' She looked question-ingly at Pitt.

'Inspector Pitt, ma'am.'

'Inspector Pitt, if you would excuse me, I would prefer to retire.'

13

'Of course. Will you permit me to speak again to your butler tomorrow?''

'Naturally, if you feel it necessary.' She turned and was on her way out when there was another sound in the hall and another man appeared in the doorway, slender and dark, very tall, perhaps ten years younger than she. His face was pinched with shock and his eyes had the wide, white-rimmed staring look of someone under a great strain.

Amethyst Hamilton froze, swaying a little, and every vestige of color left her skin. Garnet, a step behind her, put out his arms, and she made an ineffectual brushing movement to get rid of him, but her strength failed.

The young man also stood rigid, struggling to control some deep emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. There was pain in the set of his mouth; his face had a numb, almost broken look. He tried to form some sentence appropriate to the situation and could not.

It was she who commanded herself first.

'Good evening, Barclay,' she said with a supreme effort. 'No doubt Huggins has told you about your father's death. It was considerate of you to come, especially at this hour. I am afraid there is nothing to be done tonight, but I thank you for your presence.''

'Accept my condolences,' he said stiffly. 'If there is any assistance I can give, please allow me. People to inform, business affairs-'

' 'I shall make all the arrangements,'' Garnet put in. Either he was unaware of the young man's emotion, or he wished to ignore it. 'Thank you. Naturally I shall keep you informed. ''

For a long moment no one moved or spoke. Jasper looked helpless, Garnet perplexed and impatient, Amethyst close to collapse, and Barclay Hamilton so tortured by anguish that he had no idea what to say or do.

Then at last Amethyst inclined her head with a courtesy 14

so chill, in other circumstances it would have been blatantly rude.

'Thank you, Barclay. I am sure you must be cold. Huggins will bring some brandy, but if you will pardon me I will retire.'

'Of course. I-I-' he stammered.

She waited, but Barclay found nothing further to say. In silence she passed him and with Jasper at her elbow walked out into the hall. They heard her footsteps on the stairs and dying away across the landing.

Garnet turned to Pitt. 'Thank you, Inspector, for your . . . civility,' he said, choosing the word carefully. 'Now I assume you have inquiries to make; we will not detain you. Huggins will show you out.'

Pitt remained where he was. 'Yes sir, 1 do have inquiries to make, and the sooner they are begun the better my chances of success. Perhaps you could tell me something about your brother-in-law's business interests?'

Garnet's eyebrows rose in incredulity. 'Good God! Now?'

Pitt held his ground. 'If you please, sir. It would then make it unnecessary for me to trouble Lady Hamilton tomorrow morning.''