trusted seemed to him at that instant a valueless and impotent
thing. There was a splash of spray or raindrops against the window and
through the crack in the door. The lamp chimney hissed and spluttered
and finally the light went out. The room was in sudden darkness. Hamel
sprang then to his feet. Silence had become an intolerable thing. He
felt the close presence of another human being creeping in upon him.

"Who's there?" he cried. "Who's there, I say?"

There was no direct answer, only the door was pushed a little further
open. He had stepped close to it now. The sweep of the wind was upon his
face, although in the black darkness he could see nothing. And then a
sudden recollection flashed in upon him. From his trousers pocket he
snatched a little electric torch. In an instant his thumb had pressed
the button. He turned it upon the door. The shivering white hand which
held it open was plainly in view. It was the hand of a woman! He stepped
swiftly forward. A dark figure almost fell into his arms.

"Mrs. Fentolin!" he exclaimed, aghast.

An hysterical cry, choked and subdued, broke from her lips. He half
carried, half led her to his easy-chair. Suddenly steadied by the
presence of this unlooked-for emergency, he closed the outside door and
relit the lamp with firm fingers. Then he turned to face her, and his
amazement at this strange visit became consternation.

She was still in her dinner-gown of black satin, but it was soaked
through with the rain and hung about her like a black shroud. She had
lost one shoe, and there was a great hole in her silk stocking. Her hair
was all disarranged; one of its numerous switches was hanging down over
her ear. The rouge upon her cheeks had run down on to her neck. She sat
there, looking at him out of her hollow eyes like some trapped animal.
She was shaking with fear. It was fear, not faintness, which kept her
silent.

"Tell me, please, what is the matter?" he insisted, speaking as
indifferently as he could. "Tell me at once what has happened?"

She pointed to the door.

"Lock it!" she implored.

He turned down the latch and drew the bolt. The sound seemed to give her
a little courage. Her fingers went to her throat for a moment.

"Give me some water."

He poured out some soda-water. She drank only a sip and put it down
again. He began to be alarmed. She had the appearance of one who has
suddenly lost her senses.

"Please tell me just what has happened?" he begged.