The expression in my mistress's eyes said: Damn Darius! But she laughed good-humouredly. "Oh, I don't mean a party, my dear. Just you and Darius and Mrs. Brunton; Bella and I."
"I should love it," said Fay. "If Darius doesn't mind."
"Why should Darius mind?" demanded my mistress. "Doesn't he like me?"
"Oh, yes!" said Fay quickly. "He admires you ever so much!"
"Then why should he mind?"
The girl could not withstand the point-blank question. "Well, you see," she faltered,
"No, Madame. I never thought. I scarcely knew what I was doing."
"When did you first see Mr. Whittall?"
"He came running up the stairs to the bedroom where the...where the body was lying. He ordered us all out of the room. 'I must be alone with my dead!' he said. Those were his words. Very dramatic."