[MaC] A pause in the music

[Dorothea Salo]

Mel Mason wrote:
> The party was continuing after the disruption of the warden's visit ... 
> There was still no sign of Esme (although Cyril might have re-appeared 
> by now).
> 
> When suddenly the music of the piano in Anton Barowennski's flat broke 
> off abruptly.  A pause, and then Anton himself appeared at the service 
> door of the flat.  No-one had vever seen him like this - white faced, 
> shakingm his dark eyes wild.
> 
> "Come," he said.  "You must come ..."  His eyes moved around the room, 
> as though searching for someone.  And then suddenly, shockingly, he sank 
> to the ground, buried his face in his hands, and wept.
> 
> "Come on," said Oswald briefly.

	"Right behind you," Pamela said, her face set. "Mum, take someone 
downstairs with you and get my bag, would you please? It's in the front 
hall."

> And then all those present saw her ... Nola Diamond.
> 
> She was lying on the settee, and at first glance it seemed as though she 
> had fallen asleep there, her dark red hair falling across her face.  But 
> there was something strangely still about her.  Oswald, with an 
> exclamation, walked forward and lifted the hair to reveal a little of 
> her neck.  And then they all saw the marks left by a ligature that had 
> bitten deeply into the pale flesh.
> 
> "I'm afraid," said Oswald, "she's dead."

	"Well, best to be sure," Pamela said firmly. "Bear witness, Mr. 
Skeffington-Nottle, won't you? Just as well I wore gloves this evening." 
And she bent to touch her first two fingers to the pulse-point in The 
Actress's lacerated throat.