His hands trembled perceptibly as he stood before the locked door, and there had returned to his ashen face that wild, haggard expression of intense fear so noticeable when he had first discovered me.
“You speak of the person being compromised if discovered by me,” I said. “Then I presume your visitor is a woman?”
“You are at liberty to entertain whatever conviction you please. I shall, however, tell you nothing.”
“You refuse?”
“Yes, I refuse.”
“Even though I should tell Dora that I found, in the middle of the night, a mysterious woman in your rooms?”
“Even then I shall refuse to compromise my visitor,” he answered, with firmness that completely astounded me.
“Very well,” I said abruptly. “Good-night. Remember your appointment, and come down to Wadenhoe next Saturday.”
“Good-night. Next time we meet I hope you will not be quite so inquisitive,” he replied, as he closed the door after me and I descended the stairs.