A few feet along the path through it she looked sharply back over her shoulder.

She saw no one at those windows of the East wing which looked on to the lawn and shrubbery, but a movement on the lawn itself caught her eye.

The cat Melchisidec was following her.

She did not slacken her pace, but for a moment the smile faded from her face at the remembrance of her husband's outburst at breakfast.

Then the smile returned, subtile and expectant.
She did not wait for Melchisidec.