He gave Stella Croyle's number and waited.

Whilst he waited he looked at his watch.

The time was a quarter past seven.
An unfamiliar and sleepy voice answered him from her house.
"Will you put me on to Mrs.Croyle ?" he requested, and the reply came back: "Mrs.Croyle went away with her maid last night." "Last night ?" cried Hillyard incredulously.

"But I did not leave the house myself until well after six, and she had then no plans for leaving." Further details, however, were given to him.

Mrs.Croyle had called up a garage whence cars can be hired.