"How do you know that?"
The sound of his voice startled her. She was just by the drawing-room door. She stood still and looked round.
"How?" she said. "Why, because Doctor Isaacson doesn't believe in me in any capacity."
"But I do."
Again she noticed the amazing expressiveness of his face.
"Yes," she said, "I know. You are different."
She opened the door and passed into the room. Directly she was in it she heard the Nubian sailors on the Loulia beginning their serenade. (She chose to call it that to herself to-night.) Their music tore at her heart, at her whole nature. She wanted to rush to it, now, at once, without one moment of waiting. Hardly could she force her body to move quietly across the room to the terrace. Nigel came up and stood close to her.
"Oh, I must have a wrap," she said.
"I'll fetch it."
"No, no! You mustn't go upstairs. You'll tire yourself."