“Had to say something. I was beginning to feel frightened. I could see right down it. He extended it straight towards me, slowly, slowly⁠—just like that⁠—until the cuff was six inches from my face. Queer thing to see an empty sleeve come at you like that! And then⁠—”

“Well?”

“Something⁠—exactly like a finger and thumb it felt⁠—nipped my nose.”

Bunting began to laugh.

“There wasn’t anything there!” said Cuss, his voice running up into a shriek at the “there.” “It’s all very well for you to laugh, but I tell you I was so startled, I hit his cuff hard, and turned around, and cut out of the room⁠—I left him⁠—”