Mr.Tosswill sat some way off under a shaded reading lamp; his wife, knitting, not far from him.

Tom was surreptitiously reading a book in a corner behind the sofa.
And then, all at once, Radmore found himself whirled into an unutterable scene of confusion and terror.
As Timmy walked through the open door Josephine had leapt out of his arms on to the floor.

For a flashing second the cat stood on the carpet, her white fur all abristle, her back arched, and her tail lashing furiously in the air.

Then, uttering a hoarse cry of rage and fear, she sprang towards Mrs.Crofton, and dug first her claws, and then her teeth, into the white arm that hung over the side of the couch....

Josephine's terrified victim gave a fearful cry, everyone in the room got up and rushed forward, and at that exact instant Betty came into the drawing-room.