CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOA gong sounded, and they went down to lunch. The family was introduced—Geoffrey Ford and Mrs Geoffrey; the dark girl Miss Silver had seen crossing the hall; Miss Janet Johnstone and the little girl Stella. Star Somers, it appeared, was up in London on business—“She is just over from America and has so much to attend to.” A rather daring flight on the part of Adriana, because everyone in the room except Miss Silver knew perfectly well that Star’s “business” was to avoid being dragooned into attending poor Mabel Preston’s funeral. Simmons, serving the meal with dignity, had heard her say as much in the high, sweet voice which carried so—“No, darling, I won’t, and that’s flat! I haven’t any black down here, and if you are going to suggest that I trail round in some archaic g
