At the moment Blix was in the upper chamber of the house of Suddhoo, quaking with exquisite horror at the Seal-cutter's magic.

She looked up quickly as the bell rang.

It was not Condy Rivers' touch.

She swiftly reflected that it was Wednesday night, and that she might probably expect Frank Catlin.

He was a fair specimen of the Younger Set, a sort of modified Jack Carter, and called upon her about once a fortnight.