He walked slowly, so as to consume more time,
then at University Place was seized with a panic, and hurried
rapidly to his destination. The door was answered by the same man
who had opened the night before, but now, in some indefinable way,
his calm, while flawless externally, seemed to have lifted to a mere
surface, as though he might hastily have assumed his coat. To
Orde's inquiry he stated with great brevity that Miss Bishop was not
yet visible, and prepared to close the door.
"You are mistaken," said Orde, with equal brevity, and stepped
inside. "I have an engagement with Miss Bishop. Tell her Mr. Orde
is here."
The man departed in some doubt, leaving Orde standing in the gloomy
hall. That young man, however, quite cheerfully parted the heavy
curtains leading into a parlour, and sat down in a spindle-legged
chair. At his entrance, a maid disappeared out another door,
carrying with her the implements of dusting and brushing.
Orde looked around the room with some curiosity. It was long,
narrow, and very high. Tall windows admitted light at one end. The
illumination was, however, modified greatly by hangings of lace
covering all the windows, supplemented by heavy draperies drawn back
to either side.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203