A stout, respectable-looking woman hesitated in the doorway. "Come in, Mrs. Eversley," cried Cyril. "I'm glad to see you again. I've never forgotten you or your doughnuts." The troubled face broke into a pleased smile as the woman dropped a courtesy. "It's very kind of you to remember them, my lord, very kind indeed, and glad I am to see you again." The smile vanished. "This is a terrible business, my lord." "Terrible," assented Cyril. "His poor lordship! Mrs. Valdriguez has said for months and months that something like this was sure to happen some day." "Do you mean to say that she prophesied that her ladyship would kill his lordship?" exclaimed Cyril. "Yes, my lord, indeed she did! It made me feel that queer when it really 'appened." "I should think so. It's most extraordinary." "But begging your pardon, my lord, there is something special as made me ask to speak to you--something I thought you ought to know immediately." "What is it?" Cyril had felt that some new trouble was brewing. "One of the servants has disappeared, my lord." "Disappeared? How? When?" "Perhaps I'm making too much of it, but this murder has that upset me that I'm afraid of my own shadow and I says to myself, says I: 'Don't wait; go and tell his lordship at once and he'll know whether it is important or not.'" "You did perfectly right. But who has disappeared?" "Priscilla Prentice and perhaps she hasn't disappeared at all. This is how it is: The day before yesterday----" "The day of the murder?" asked Cyril. "Yes, my lord. Prentice came to me and asked if she could go to Newhaven to see a cousin she has there. The cousin is ill--leastways so she told me--and she wanted as a great favour to be allowed to spend the night with her, and she promised to come back by the carrier early next morning. It seemed all right, so I gave her permission and off she goes. Then yesterday this dreadful thing happened and Prentice went clean out of my head. I never thought of her again till breakfast this morning when Mr. Douglas says to me: 'Why, wherever is Miss Prentice?' You could 'ave knocked me down with a feather, I was that taken aback! So I says, 'Whatever can 'ave happened to her?'" "When she heard of the murder, she may have taken fright. She may be waiting to return to the castle till the inquest and funeral are over," suggested Cyril. "Then she ought at least to have sent word. Besides she should have got back before she could have heard of the murder." "You had better send to the cousin's and find out if she is there. She may have been taken ill and had nobody to send a message by." "We none of us know whereabouts this cousin lives, my lord." "Newhaven is not a large place. It can't be difficult to find her." "But we don't know her name, my lord." "That certainly complicates matters. How long has this girl been at the castle?" "Six months, my lord." "Who did you get her from?"