But nothing could now exceed my confusion upon seeing the gentleman and his lady enter

As soon as they were down, Landor hit the microdetonators he had installed in the few seconds he'd had. There was a tiny crack, and the wall of the water storage area crumbled into a side corridor.

Would you like a biscuit? ― Don't mind if I do!

Doris: You're making me feel like the proverbial stepmother.