I got off my horse and walked furtively into the hall, looking round me.
Margot glided up to me immediately, and took my whip and hat from me with her soft, velvety white hands. I shivered at her touch.
At dinner her blue eyes watched me.
I could not eat, but I drank more wine than usual.
When I turned to go down to the smoking-room, she said: “Don’t be very long, Ronald.”
I muttered I scarcely know what words in reply. It was close on midnight before I went to bed. When I entered her room, shielding the light of the candle with my hand, she was still awake.
Nestling against the pillows, she stretched herself curiously and smiled up at me.
“I thought you were never coming, dear,” she said.
I knew that I was very pale, but she did not remark it. I got into bed, but left the candle still burning.
Presently she said: