Unconscious of her scrutiny, for the book before him was all-engrossing, the lawyer went from page to page.
“Don’t you think we had better be going?” Kathleen asked timidly.
Spedding looked up, and his stare was in keeping with his words.
“When I have finished we will go,” he said brusquely, and went on reading.
Kathleen gave a little gasp of astonishment, for, with all her suspicions, she had not been prepared for such a complete and instant dropping of his mask of amiability. In a dim fashion she began to realize her danger, yet there could be no harm; outside was the chauffeur, he stood for something of established order. She made another attempt.
“I must insist, Mr. Spedding, upon your finishing your examination of that book elsewhere. I do not know whether you are aware that you are occupying the only chair in the room,” she added indignantly.
“I am very well aware,” said the lawyer calmly, without raising his eyes.
“Mr. Spedding!”
He looked up with an air of weariness.
“May I ask you to remain quiet until I have finished,” he said, with an emphasis that she could not mistake, “and lest you have any lingering doubt that my present research is rather on my own account than on yours, I might add that if you annoy me by whining or fuming, or by any such nonsensical tricks, I have that with me which will quiet you,” and he resumed his reading.