Because of that vast key system which is part of the intricacy of the very good housekeeping of Frau G——, there was no necessity to disturb the Hausmeister; but nothing could lessen the wail of the door which let them in with a groan, and closed behind them with a bang that was worthy of the occasion. It was the man’s place to have lessened the noise by laying a restraining hand upon the lock, in accordance with the printed directions nailed against the main panel, but Rosina felt intuitively that this was no time to remind him of the fact.
With the closing of the door they were left in a darkness thorough and complete.
Rosina’s voice: “You said you had wax tapers.”
Von Ibn’s voice: “No, I have not say so.”
Rosina’s accents of distress: “Haven’t you any tapers?”
Von Ibn’s voice, dully: “Yes, I have, but I have not say so before.”
Rosina, entreatingly: “Then do please light one.”
Dead silence.
She began to walk towards the stairs that she could not see; as she did so she heard his keys jingling, and knew from the sound that he must be hunting the wherewithal for illumination. He struck a match and adjusted it in the small hole at the end of the box, and as he did so he called:
“Stop! wait for me to come also.”