Rogers was standing by the dining-room door. As the three men descended the stairs he moved a step or two forward. He said in a low anxious voice:
«I hope lunch will be satisfactory. There is cold ham and cold tongue, and I’ve boiled some potatoes. And there’s cheese and biscuits and some tinned fruits.»
Lombard said: «Sounds all right. Stores are holding out, then?»
«There is plenty of food, sir – of a tinned variety. The larder is very well stocked. A necessity, that, I should say, sir, on an island where one may be cut off from the mainland for a considerable period.»
Lombard nodded.
Rogers murmured as he followed the three men into the dining-room:
«It wormes me that Fred Narracott hasn’t been over today. It’s peculiarly unfortunate, as you might say,»
«Yes,» said Lombard, «peculiarly unfortunate describes it very well.»
Miss Brent came into the room. She had just dropped a ball of wool and was carefully rewinding the end of it.
As she took her seat at table she remarked:
«The weather is changing. The wind is quite strong and there are white horses on the sea.»
Mr. Justice Wargrave came in. He walked with a slow measured tread. He darted quick looks from under his bushy eyebrows at the other occupants of the dining-room. He said:
«You have had an active morning.» There was a faint malicious pleasure in his voice.
Vera Claythorne hurried in. She was a little out of breath.
She said quickly: «I hope you didn’t wait for me. Am I late?»
Emily Brent said: «You’re not the last. The General isn’t here yet.»
They sat round the table.
Rogers addressed Miss Brent: «Will you begin, Madam, or will you wait?»
Vera said: «General Macarthur is sitting right down by the sea. I don’t expect he would hear the gong there and anyway» – she hesitated – «he’s a little vague today, I think.»
Rogers said quickly: «I will go down and inform him luncheon is ready.»
Dr. Armstrong jumped up.
«I’ll go,» he said. «You others start lunch.»
He left the room. Behind him he heard Rogers’ voice.
«Will you take cold tongue or cold ham, Madam?»