Already I had acquired the true suburbanite ability to take servants on faith; I no longer demanded written and unimpeachable references.  I, Rachel Innes, have learned not to mind if the cook sits down comfortably in my sitting-room when she is taking the orders for the day, and I am grateful if the silver is not cleaned with scouring soap.  And so that day I merely told Liddy to send the new applicant in.  When she came, however, I could hardly restrain a gasp of surprise.  It was the woman with the pitted face.

She stood somewhat awkwardly just inside the door, and she had an air of self-confidence that was inspiring.  Yes, she could cook; was not a fancy cook, but could make good soups and desserts if there was any one to take charge of the salads.  And so, in the end, I took her.  As Halsey said, when we told him, it didn’t matter much about the cook’s face, if it was clean.

I have spoken of Halsey’s restlessness.  On that day it seemed to be more than ever a resistless impulse that kept him out until after luncheon.  I think he hoped constantly that he might meet Louise driving over the hills in her runabout:  possibly he did meet her occasionally, but from his continued gloom I felt sure the situation between them was unchanged.

Part of the afternoon I believe he read—­Gertrude and I were out, as I have said, and at dinner we both noticed that something had occurred to distract him.  He was disagreeable, which is unlike him, nervous, looking at his watch every few minutes, and he ate almost nothing.  He asked twice during the meal on what train Mr. Jamieson and the other detective were coming, and had long periods of abstraction during which he dug his fork into my damask cloth and did not hear when he was spoken to.  He refused dessert, and left the table early, excusing himself on the ground that he wanted to see Alex.

Alex, however, was not to be found.  It was after eight when Halsey ordered the car, and started down the hill at a pace that, even for him, was unusually reckless.  Shortly after, Alex reported that he was ready to go over the house, preparatory to closing it for the night.  Sam Bohannon came at a quarter before nine, and began his patrol of the grounds, and with the arrival of the two detectives to look forward to, I was not especially apprehensive.

At half-past nine I heard the sound of a horse driven furiously up the drive.  It came to a stop in front of the house, and immediately after there were hurried steps on the veranda.  Our nerves were not what they should have been, and Gertrude, always apprehensive lately, was at the door almost instantly.  A moment later Louise had burst into the room and stood there bareheaded and breathing hard!

“Where is Halsey?” she demanded.  Above her plain black gown her eyes looked big and somber, and the rapid drive had brought no color to her face.  I got up and drew forward a chair.