Suddenly they widened⁠—was it with alarm? As though, already, she guessed.

Jimmy hastened to speak.

“This is Ronny Devereux, Miss Wade. You must often have heard Gerry speak of him.”

“Oh, yes.” She turned a lovely, warm, welcoming smile on him. “You’ve both been staying at Chimneys, haven’t you? Why didn’t you bring Gerry over with you?”

“We⁠—er⁠—couldn’t,” said Ronny, and then stopped.

Again Jimmy saw the look of fear flash into her eyes.

“Miss Wade,” he said, “I’m afraid⁠—I mean, we’ve got bad news for you.”

She was on the alert in a moment.

“Gerry?”

“Yes⁠—Gerry. He’s⁠—”