Friday as usual.-;J…I suppose they’ve had a lovers’ quarrel-or do you think it’s a code for burglars?…More dachshunds! Really, I do think people have gone a little crazy about breeding dachshunds. I mean, thereare other dogs. Your Uncle Simon used to breed Manchester Terriers. Such graceful little things. I do like dogs withlegs…Lady going abroad will sell her navy two piece suiting…no measurements or price given…A marriage is announced-no, amurder. What? Well, I never! Edmund,Edmund, listen to this…

A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.

What an extraordinary thing!Edmund! ’

‘What’s that?’ Edmund looked up from his newspaper.

‘Friday, October 29th…Why, that’stoday.’

‘Let me see.’ Her son took the paper from her.

‘But what does it mean?’ Mrs Swettenham asked with lively curiosity.

Edmund Swettenham rubbed his nose doubtfully.

‘Some sort of party, I suppose. The Murder Game-that kind of thing.’

‘Oh,’ said Mrs Swettenham doubtfully. ‘It seems a very odd way of doing it. Just sticking it in the advertisements like that. Not at all like Letitia Blacklock who always seems to me such a sensible woman.’

‘Probably got up by the bright young things she has in the house.’

‘It’s very short notice. Today. Do you think we’re just supposed to go?’

‘It says “Friends, please accept this, the only intimation,”’ her son pointed out.

‘Well, I think these new-fangled ways of giving invitations are very tiresome,’ said Mrs Swettenham decidedly.

‘All right, Mother, you needn’t go.’

‘No,’ agreed Mrs Swettenham.

There was a pause.

‘Do you reallywant that last piece of toast, Edmund?’

‘I should have thought my being properly nourished mattered more than letting that old hag clear the table.’

‘Sh, dear, she’llhear you…Edmund, what happens at a Murder Game?’