“Miss Sonderson’s advice is good. If you want, I’ll show the lady down.”
“Do,” said Dangerfield, who by now was in a high pitch of excitement, staring with shifty suspicion at the woman. At such moments, there was something brooding and combustible about him that gave one the sensation of walking over a mine.
The woman drew hastily away, as though really alarmed; then she turned on them as they stood together, Inga’s hand still resting on his arm, as though to quiet him.
“So that’s how it is?” she said, with a high-pitched laugh.
Then she turned and went around the corner. At the steps she seemed to see O’Leary for the first time.
“I don’t need your assistance,” she said curtly.
O’Leary, without reply, continued to follow. At the bottom of the flight she turned again. This time her voice was conciliating.
“Thank you, but I prefer to go on alone.”
“Yes, yes,” said O’Leary, as though he had grown suddenly deaf; “but it’s no trouble—none at all.”
At the next flight she wheeled around with abrupt determination.