With a swift movement she gained the bell and rang it. The man’s hand flashed out, but immediately afterwards an oath and a cry of pain broke from his lips. The pistol fell to the floor. Ennison kicked it away with his foot.
“I shall send for a policeman,” Anna said, “directly my maid answers the bell—unless you choose to go before.”
The man made no attempt to recover the revolver. He walked unsteadily towards the door.
“Very well,” he said, “I will go. But,” and he faced them both with a still expressionless glance, “this is not the end!”
Anna recovered her spirits with marvellous facility. It was Ennison who for the rest of his visit was quiet and subdued.
“You are absurd,” she declared. “It was unpleasant while it lasted, but it is over—and my toasted scones are delicious. Do have another.”
“It is over for now,” he answered, “but I cannot bear to think that you are subject to this sort of thing.”
She shrugged her shoulders slightly. Some of the delicate colour which the afternoon walk had brought into her cheeks had already returned.
“It is an annoyance, my friend,” she said, “not a tragedy.”