"Yes?"

"He told me to wait until I was alone with
you," I said, dropping my voice significantly, and
watching him intently out of the corner of my
eye. I have always been rather good at what
is called, I believe, creating an atmosphere.

"Well?"

There was no change of expression in the dark
melancholic face. Had he any idea of what I
was about to say?

"This is the message." I dropped my voice
still lower. "'Find the extra coffee-cup, and you
can rest in peace.'"

"What on earth does he mean?" Lawrence
stared at me in quite unaffected astonishment.

"Don't you know?"

"Not in the least. Do you?"

I was compelled to shake my head.

"What extra coffee-cup?"

"I don't know."

"He'd better ask Dorcas, or one of the maids,
if he wants to know about coffee-cups. It's their
business, not mine. I don't know anything about
the coffee-cups, except that we've got some that
are never used, which are a perfect dream! Old
Worcester. You're not a connoisseur, are you,
Hastings?"

I shook my head.

"You miss a lot. A really perfect bit of old

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