She was in the conspiracy too. Oh, it should be a lesson to
Sheila! Oh, if only daylight would come! 'What are you going to
do--to do--to DO?' He rose once more and paced his silent cage.
To and fro, thinking no more; just using his eyes, compelling
them to wander from picture to picture, bedpost to bedpost; now
counting aloud his footsteps; now humming; only, only to keep
himself from thinking. At last he took out a drawer and actually
began arranging its medley of contents; ties, letters, studs,
concert and theatre programmes--all higgledy-piggledy. And in the
midst of this childish strategem he heard a faint sound, as of
heavy water trickling from a height. He turned. A thief was in
one of the candles. It was guttering out. He would be left in
darkness. He turned hastily without a moment's heed, to call for
light, flung the door open and full in the flare of a lamp,
illuminating her pale forehead and astonished face beneath her
black straw hat, stood face to face with Ada.

With one swift dexterous movement he drew the door to after him,
looking straight into her almost colourless steady eyes. 'Ah,' he
said instantly, in a high faint voice, 'the powder, thank you;
yes, Mr Lawford's powder; thank you, thank you. He must be kept
absolutely quiet--absolutely. Mrs Lawford is following. Please
tell her that I am here, when she returns. Mr Critchett was in,
then? Thank you. Extreme, extreme silence, please.' Again that
knotted, melodramatic finger raised itself on high; and within
that lean, cadaverous body the soul of its lodger quailed at this
spectral boldness. But it was triumphant. The maid at once left
him and went downstairs. He heard faint voices in muffled
consultation. And in a moment Sheila's silks rustled once more on
the staircase. Lawford put down the lamp, and watched her