"Poor child! how you tremble! Draw your cape more forward; the bitter cold requires it. Are you trembling from fear?"
"No; only from cold." But I tried in vain to think so.
"A steady hand and steadfast nerve are wanted for your task. If you cannot rely on them, say so at once. In five minutes you will have no retreat."
"I shall be better directly. But I am so cold. Inspector Cutting, it must be freezing hard--ten degrees, I should think."
"It does not freeze at all. I see we must warm you a little. But no more 'Inspector Cutting,' if you please, until to-morrow."
Hereupon he led me into a little room, fenced off from the bar of some refreshment-house. A glorious fire was burning, by which he set and left me. Presently he returned, with a small glass in his hand.
"Drink this, young lady. It will warm you, and brace your nerves."
I saw by the firelight that it was brandy, or some dark-coloured spirit.
"No, I thank you. Do you suppose that I require Dutch courage?"
I threw such emphasis on the personal pronoun, and looked at him so indignantly, that he laughed outright.