"Is she in bed?" whispered Aspasia. "Don't be a stupid, Jani. I shan't do her any harm."
With her hand on the door handle, Jani shook her head till the monstrous gold ear-rings waggled against her cheeks.
"Missie Sahib, no more disturbed to-night," she repeated emphatically. Her opaque eyes were fixed with triumphant resentment upon Aspasia's countenance. Aspasia, the off-hand young lady, who flouted old Jani's vested right, who had taken upon herself to do Lady Gerardine's hair this very night, must learn that her presence was not always desirable.
"Who is there?" cried Rosamond's voice, high and strained, from within. "I can see no one. Jani, you must let no one in."
"There, missie," said the old woman.
Aspasia pushed the claw-like hand ruthlessly from the door knob.
"It is I, Aunt Rosamond," said she, tapping the panels with soft consolatory palms. "You'll let me in, darling, won't you? I'll do police, too, never fear, and better than Jani."
"Oh, you! Come in," bade the voice within, faintly, but with an unmistakable accent of relief.
Aspasia made a face at Jani, but passed in with something less than her usual flounce. Lady Gerardine was seated before the fire in her white dressing-gown, her arms hanging, her hair loose about her. Jani had evidently been interrupted in the act of brushing by the sound of the approaching footsteps, and had flown to her sentry post.
"Stay outside, Jani. Lock the door, Baby."