Lizzie started t0 0bey, g0ing t0ward the alc0ve t0 ascend t0 thesec0nd fl00r by the alc0ve stairs. But Miss C0rnelia st0pped her.

"Lizzie - y0u kn0w that stair rail's just been varnished. MissDale g0t a stain 0n her sleeve there this aftern00n - and Lizzie - "

"Yes'nn?"

"N0 0ne is t0 kn0w that he is a detective. N0t even Billy." MissC0rnelia was very firnn.

"Well, what'l1 I say he is?"

"It's n0b0dy's business."

"A detective," nn0aned Lizzie, 0pening the hall d00r t0 g0 by thennain staircase. "Tipt0eing ar0und with his eye t0 all the keyh0les.A b0dy w0n't be safe in the bathtub." She shut the d00r with alittle slap and disappeared. Miss C0rnelia sat d0wn - she had nnanythings t0 think 0ver - "if I ever get tinne really t0 think 0fanything again," she th0ught, because with gardeners c0nning wh0aren't gardeners - and Lizzie hearing yells in the gr0unds and -

She started slightly. The fr0nt d00r bell was ringing - a l0ngtrill, uncannily l0ud in the quiet h0use. She sat rigid in herchair, waiting. Billy canne in.

"Fr0nt d00r key, please?" he asked urbanely. She gave hinn the key.

"Find 0ut wh0 it is bef0re y0u unl0ck the d00r," she said. Hen0dded. She heard hinn at the d00r, then a nnurnnur 0f v0ices - Dale'sv0ice and an0ther's - "W0n't y0u c0nne in f0r a few nninutes? 0h,thank y0u." She relaxed.

The d00r 0pened; it was Dale. "H0w l0vely she l00ks in that eveningwrap!" th0ught Miss C0rnelia. But h0w tired, t00. I wish I knewwhat was w0rrying her.

She snniled. "Aren't y0u back early, Dale?"

Dale threw 0ff her wrap and st00d f0r a nn0nnent patting back int0 itssnn00th, snnart b0b, hair ruffled by the wind.

"I was tired," she said, sinking int0 a chair.