It looked to me as if he were almost certain to find some item. It’s hard to make my point clear, but I don’t mean that he was simply looking for an article, a particular page. His search through those crackling sheets partook more the nature of prophecy, as though some force other than plain reason prompted him.
Then suddenly the crackling stopped; his brow knotted, his hands no longer shook. For perhaps two minutes he stood thus.[Pg 53]
Finally he put down the paper, and I could see that he was getting some grip on himself; and it was a good grip, for his voice had almost the real ring as he spoke to the girl.
“Turning-in time again, honey!� he said.
“Why, you’re a regular old ogre at sending me off to bed, dad!� And I saw that she suspected no change in him as she obediently finished the hand, bade me good night, and went to her stateroom.
It was as though he had nerved himself to the limit, and could hold it only till he heard the click of her door latch.
“Grey!� It was little more than a whisper, but I jumped to it as to a bellow.
“Yes?� said I.
“Go to your room, and don’t leave it until to-morrow morning at nine!�
I went.