“She put down the empty glass and leaned back in her chair, her eyes half closed. Tuppence thought that perhaps this was the moment in the morning when she took a little nap, so she remained silent. Suddenly however, Mrs Lancaster seemed to jerk herself awake again. Her eyes opened, she looked at Tuppence and said, ‘I see you’re looking at the fireplace.’ ‘Oh. Was I?’ said Tuppence, slightly startled. ‘Yes. I wondered—‘ she leant forward and lowered her voice. ‘—Excuse me, was it your poor child?’”