"Esther, my dear! What is it?"
She continued to gaze transfixed in the direction of the door, unutterable horror written on her face.
"S'sh," she whispered tensely. "S'sh—listen!"
Roger listened, but could hear nothing. The house was absolutely still. Very gently he took her hand and held it firmly in his. It trembled like a bird imprisoned.
"Darling—there's nothing to be frightened of. What did you think you heard?"
She swallowed twice, then spoke, her voice still strangely hoarse.
"It was the doctor. He was outside there, in the passage. I know he was there."
"Nonsense, there's no one about, or if there is, it's only Chalmers."
"Listen, though!"
Roger obeyed again, and for several seconds they both held their breath, straining their ears. At last from outside there came the very faint creak of a footstep, as though someone who had been standing still was now moving away. Roger made a movement to jump up, but in a panic she pulled him back.