vening came. The lights came up on the terrace. People dined and talked and laughed, albeit less loudly and merrily than they had a day or two ago. The steel band played. But the dancing ended early. People yawned, went off to bed. The lights went out. There was darkness and stillness. The Golden Palm Tree slept...

“Evelyn. Evelyn!” The whisper came sharp and urgent.

Evelyn Hillingdon stirred and turned on her pillow.

“Evelyn. Please wake up.”

Evelyn Hillingdon sat up abruptly. Tim Kendal was standing in the doorway. She stared at him in surprise.

''Evelyn, please, could you come? It's-Molly. She's ill. I don't know what's the matter with her. I think she must have taken something."

Evelyn was quick, decisive.

“All right, Tim. I'll come. You go back to her. I'll be with you in a moment.”

Tim Kendal disappeared. Evelyn slipped out of bed, threw on a dressing gown and looked across at the other bed. Her husband, it seemed, had not been awakened. He lay there, his head turned away, breathing quietly. Evelyn hesitated for a moment, then decided not to disturb him. She went out of the door and walked rapidly to the main building and beyond it to the Kendals' bungalow. She caught up with Tim in the doorway.

Molly lay in bed. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was clearly not natural. Evelyn bent over her, rolled up an eyelid, felt her pulse and then looked at the bedside table. There was a glass there which had been used. Beside it was an empty phial of tablets. She picked it up.

“They were her sleeping pills,” said Tim, “but that bottle was half full yesterday or the day before. I think she must have taken the lot.”

“Go and get Dr. Graham,” said Evelyn, “and on the way knock them up and tell them to make strong coffee. Strong as possible. Hurry.”

Tim dashed off. Just outside the doorway he collided with Edward Hillingdon.

“Oh, sorry, Edward.”

“What's happening here?” demanded Hillingdon. “What's going on?”

“It's Molly. Evelyn's with her. I must get hold of the doctor. I suppose I ought've gone to him first but I-I wasn't sure and I thought Evelyn would know. Molly would have hated it if I'd fetched a doctor when it wasn't necessary.”

He went off, running. Edward Hillingdon looked after him for a moment and then he walked into the bedroom.

“What's happening?” he said. “Is it serious?”

“Oh, there you are, Edward. I wondered if you'd woken up. This silly child has been taking things.”

“Is it bad?”

“One can't tell without knowing how much she's taken. I shouldn't think it was too bad if we get going in time. I've sent for coffee. If we can get some of that down her-”

“But why should she do such a thing? You don't think-” He stopped.

“What don't I think?” asked Evelyn.

“You don't think it's because of the inquiry-the police-all that?”

“It's possible, of course. That sort of thing could be very alarming to a nervous type.”

“Molly never used to seem a nervous type.”

“One can't really tell,” said Evelyn. “It's the most unlikely people sometimes who lose their nerve.”

“Yes, I remember...” Again he stopped.

“The truth is,” said Evelyn, “that one doesn't really know anything about anybody.” She added, “Not even the people who are nearest to you...”

“Isn't that going a little too far, Evelyn-exaggerating too much?”

“I don't think it is. When you think of people, it is in the image you have made of them for yourself.”

“I know you,” said Edward Hillingdon quietly.

“You think you do.”

“No. I'm sure.” He added, “And you're sure of me.”

Evelyn looked at him then turned back to the bed. She took Molly by the shoulders and shook her.

“We ought to be doing something, but I suppose it's better to wait until Dr. Graham comes. Oh, I think I hear them.”