There were glimpses through the open windows of unmade beds within, and, on the veranda, lay some red blankets bundled together.

Colin took his wife into a parlour, where flies buzzed round the remains of a meal and some empty whisky bottles and glasses.

After considerable shouting and knocking at doors along the passage, he succeeded in arousing the landlady, who came in, buttoning her blouse.

Her obviously dyed yellow hair was in a dishevelled state, her eyes were heavy and her face sodden.

She had evidently been sleeping off the effects of drink.
'Had a night of it, I suppose, Mrs Hurst ?' observed McKeith glumly.
'This is a nice sort of place to show a lady into.' The woman burst out on the defensive, but McKeith silenced her.
'That'll do.