But the evil spirit that haunted the place was there, beside her on the little sofa, and she could hear its demon whisper in her ear. That was a part of her expiation, and she knew it. Then she spoke to Schmidt steadily, but without turning her head.
‘I wish everything taken out of this room,’ she said, and she listened to her own voice to be sure that it did not shake. ‘Everything must be new, the hangings, the ceiling, the furniture, the fireplace. You see how dilapidated it all is, don’t you?’
She asked the question as if to justify her orders.
‘There is nothing fit to keep,’ answered the steward, ‘except that inlaid writing-table and the bookcase.’
‘I prefer to have them changed, too,’ said Maria quickly. ‘Everything! Let the new things be dark. There is too much light here. Not red, either. I hate red. Let everything be dark grey.’
‘A greenish grey, perhaps?’ suggested Schmidt diffidently.
‘Yes, yes! But dark, very dark, with black furniture. Paint this marble fireplace black——’
‘Black?’ exclaimed the young man, with a polite interrogation. ‘Perhaps it would be better to have a new one of black marble then?’
‘Yes—anything, provided it is changed, and everything is new and quite different! That is all I want. And my dressing-room was there.’ She pointed to a second door. ‘My bedroom was beyond it. I’m sure that door is locked, too. Could you go round by the other way and see if the key is on that side?’
She turned her white face to Schmidt. He guessed that she had been moved by some strong association and wished to be alone to recover herself, and in a moment he was gone; for he was a tactful person.