"Poor Tom!" On crossing the hall, he stopped the first servant he met, to inquire after Blanche.

Miss Blanche was quiet, up stairs, closeted with her maid in her own room.

"Quiet ?" thought Sir Patrick.

"That's a bad sign.

I shall hear more of my niece." Pending that event, the next thing to do was to find the guests.
Unerring instinct led Sir Patrick to the billiard-room.