A baleful, unwavering gleam distinguished his glance. He had evidently arrived at some determination, one that levied upon the last limit of his endurance.
All that day the unhappy man sat in his room, sullen and pondering.
The timid offers of nourishment made by his sister were either ignored or refused with such an ill grace that she finally forbore further overtures and left him to his morose reflections, to improve her opportunities of enjoying, unrebuked, the privileges of the table, until, by nightfall, an indigestion, which she welcomed on account of its occasion, disturbed her with its unfamiliar pangs.
In response to his nephew’s concern as to his condition Raikes replied by saying: “I may have something to tell you by eleven o’clock to-night; will you be on hand?”
“Sure!” answered Bob with breezy goodwill.
From time to time Raikes glanced at the clock.
His last scrutiny had revealed the hour of nine. Sixty interminable minutes more remained ere he could see the Sepoy.
Slowly the leaden hands crawled over the indifferent face.
At last the half hour struck.
A strange impatience possessed him.