When Mason returned to the villa, it was almost eleven o'clock.

Entering the foyer, a servant approached and welcomed him softly, "Sir, you're back. Do you want to have supper?"

Mason took off his coat, unbuttoned two shirt buttons, and then said calmly, "Just something plain and simple will do. Is Zoe already asleep?"

The servant respectfully took his coat and whispered, "She had a little something in the evening, played the piano for a while, and hasn't come down since."

Mason murmured his