"You ought to have gone to bed hours ago," he said.
"I waited for you; I want to speak to you; I waited last night, too," she added deliberately.
He did not look at all ashamed, only laughed rather defiantly.
"And I was the worse for drink, eh? I suppose the elevating fact did not do my cause any good."
She did not answer, wondering what he would say if she told him what determinating factor against him that glimpse over the banisters had been.
He leaned against the mantelpiece and looked at her.
"Well, I'm stone sober to-night, anyway," he said morosely.
There was a little silence.
"What do you want to see me about?" he asked. "Only the same old thing, I suppose—the desire to be free."
He took a sudden step towards her, tilting her downbent face backwards by her chin.