Her own hand at the moment was on that gilded knob of the door, through which she had been about to pass. His voice came from somewhere close behind her.
She turned slightly toward him, and saw him standing there, looking very fixedly at her, with a gaze which had something of entreaty in it, and also an unexplainable subtle something which at first she could not quite understand.
"I was going to my study, milor," she said, a little taken aback, for she certainly had not thought him in the room.
"Therefore I must crave your indulgence if I intrude," he said simply.
"Can I serve you in any way?"
"Your ladyship is pleased to be gracious——"
"Yes?"
She was accustomed to his diffident manner and to his halting speech, which usually had the knack of irritating her. But just now she seemed inclined to be kind. She felt distinctly pleased that he was here. To her keenly sensitive nature it seemed as if it had been her thoughts which had called to him, and that something in him responded to her wish that he should be the man to take her confidential message to the commander of Le Monarque.
Now his eyes dropped from her face and fixed themselves on the hand which had fallen loosely to her side.
"That paper which you hold, Madame——"