"Now you've got to come out of this!" The porter who had followed him across the hall laid his hand upon his shoulder. Cecil swung round. And he not only swung round, but he swung the porter off, and that with a degree of vigour which possibly took that official by surprise.
"Remove your hand!" he cried.
There was a moment's pause, and during that moment's pause another lady came down the stairs. The bewildered Cecil rushed to her.
"Mrs. Danvers, has everybody gone mad? What is the matter with Hetty?" There was no mistake about it this time. The lady was so desirous that none of her garments should come into contact with Cecil that, the better to draw them away from him, she clutched her skirts with both her hands. She spoke--
"How dare you, sir, address yourself to me?" She turned to the porter with an air of command. "Desire this person to stand out of my way."
And she swept off, Cecil staring at her like a man in a dream.
"Well, sir?" Cecil turned. A decently-attired, and even gentlemanly, individual was standing at his side. "Have you returned to pay your bill?"
Cecil looked him up and down. In his appearance he noted no signs of insanity, nor of intoxication either.
"Are you the manager of this establishment?"
"You know very well that I am. Pray don't let's have any nonsense."