, the heartless, preposterous fools had brought him one volume!

When on earth was Ada coming back? She was lagging on purpose. 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
deliberately close the door.

'What does this mean?' she began swiftly, 'I understand that--Ada tells
me a stranger is here; giving orders, directions. Who is he? where
is he? You bound yourself on your solemn promise not to stir till
I returned. You... How can I, how can we get decently through this
horrible business if you are so wretchedly indiscreet? You sent Ada to
the chemist's. What for? What for? I say.'

Lawford watched his wife with an almost extraneous interest. She was
certainly extremely interesting