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Marie lapsed into silence She would not argue with hi a few yards away

The door swung open again and Clare ca less tense She looked at Marie across the corridor and her eyes shone with tears 'Thank you, darling,' she said in a choked voice

Marie went to her, put an arm around her 'Was it… awful?'

'Awful,' Clare whispered 'But not as bad as I feared He wasn't conscious, but they let , Marie'

The doctor caave Stonor a nod 'I think so'

'When can we come tomorrow?' asked Clare impatiently

'Ring us in the s take ti while yet'

Stonor drove them back to the flat Clare, without dis­cussion, accepted Marie's suggestion that she coht Marie felt she could not leave her mother alone in a hotel bedroom at such a time

Mrs Abbot'Is it true? Is it true?' she asked 'Is he dead?'

'Of course he isn't dead,' Marie burst out angrily 'Who told you that?'

'The newspapers have been ringing up for hours They said he had had a fatal heart attack over dinner at the hotel…'

'A heart attack,' Stonor put in coolly, 'but not a fatal one, thank God'

'Oh, thank God, sir, yes,' Mrs Abbot et you all some coffee…'

'My et some sleep Coffee would keep her awake'

Mrs Abbot looked at Clare with hostility 'Oh, Mrs Sebastian, it's you, is it? I didn't expect to see you here'