This was followed by a ghastly silence. The disturbance had come from somewhere in the main passageway, it sounded as if someone had fallen down the main staircase. Please God, let no one be seriously hurt. Without a second thought she tumbled from the bed. She paused to adjust the belt of her robe as she no longer had a waist to put it round. Satisfied she was decent, she ran into the corridor but Alexander was there before her. She saw him vanish down the staircase. She reached the top. The remains of her early morning chocolate was spilt all over the boards. Her hands flew to her mouth, she reeled against the balustrade. Alexander was crouching over what could only be her own, dear Sally. 'Isobel, stay where you're. There's nothing you can do here.' He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes glittered, his face was pale. Sally was dead—she'd been killed by the fall. 'I don't understand, Alexander , she brings up my tray every morning. I insist she uses the main staircase and not the back stairs in order to keep her safe.' Her voice sounded strange, reed thin, as if someone else had spoken through her lips.
