Amaryllis obeyed him. But, after going a little way, she called back to him and instinctively she imitated his formality in presence of the unclean.
"Mr. Bellamy!" she cried. "Please—not this one."
To this allusion Melchard had no clue. But there was in her tone something which turned the blood cold in him.
The invisible Dick, however, answered in a laughing voice so joyous that Amaryllis was vaguely distressed.
"Rather not," he replied. "I've something much better for this guy."
With intense pleasure, while his observation-slit gave him sight of her, he watched the girl returning to her post.
Then he shot a fresh order at the prisoner.
"Turn round," he said.
Melchard obeyed.
"If you move a foot or lift a hand before I speak again, it's a bullet between the shoulders."