It was the dusk of a February afternoon.

Drake had found the lamps lit in Mr.Le Mesurier's library, and the gas was burning in the hall and on the stairs.

But within the drawing-room all the light there was came from the fire leaping upon the hearth and from the two recessed windows which faced it.

In the farthest of these windows Drake saw Miss Le Mesurier standing, the outline of her face relieved, as it were, against a gray panel of twilight.

As the door closed, she turned and took a step into the room.