"I am making you nervous with my excitement——" he stopped suddenly, and snatched up one of the papers. It was a folded brief, and bore upon its surface the name of Jasper Adelstone, written in large letters.
He stared at it for a moment as if it had bitten him, then, with an inarticulate cry, he flung it down and sprang toward her.
"Stella, we have been trapped! Come! quick!"
Stella sprang to her feet, and instinctively moved to the door: but before she had taken a couple of steps the door opened, and Jasper Adelstone stood before them.
[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
Jasper Adelstone closed the door behind him, and stood looking at them.
His face was very pale, his lips were tightly compressed, and there was that peculiar look of decision and resolution which Stella had often remarked.
True it struck her as ominous—a chill, cold and awesome, ran through her—but she stood and confronted him with a face that, though as pale as his own, showed no sign of fear; her eyes met his own with a haughty, questioning gaze.
"Mr. Adelstone," she said, in low, clear, indignant tones, "what does this mean?"